Bridging the Gap Series

Bridging the Gap was a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded nationally recognized research program dedicated to improving the understanding of how policies and environmental factors influence diet, physical activity and obesity among youth, as well as youth tobacco use.

Bridging the Gap (BTG) was created in 1997 to assess the impact of policies, programs and other environmental influences on adolescent alcohol, tobacco and illicit drug use and related outcomes. We examine these factors at multiple levels of social organization, including schools, communities and states.

In recognition of the high rates of obesity among children, adolescents and adults, we expanded our efforts in 2003 to include research on the policies, programs and other factors that contribute to physical activity/inactivity, dietary behaviors and obesity. For more information, please visit the project website.