CHILDHOOD AND ADULT OBESITY. Seriousness of Obesity and Concern about Weight of Own Children

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1 STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA July 22 - August 12, 2003 CHILDHOOD AND ADULT OBESITY Americans view childhood obesity as a serious problem but parents tend to be less concerned about their own children s weight than that of American children more generally. Over 60% of Americans in general, and 55% of parents with children under the age of 18, rate childhood obesity as a very serious problem. Yet only 18% of parents are very concerned and 22% are somewhat concerned about their own child or children s weight. This suggests that heightened media attention to childhood obesity has increased awareness of the general problem, but has not increased parents awareness of their own children s potential weight problems to the same degree. Seriousness of Obesity and Concern about Weight of Own Children Parents of Children <18 Obesity a very serious problem for American children 55% Very concerned about weight of own child/children 18% Americans are willing to entertain several different government solutions to the problem of childhood obesity. A half of all respondents favor the government placing limits on TV commercials for junk food that are aimed at children. Moreover, just under 50% are willing to put their money behind the problem and would pay increased federal taxes to cover the cost of more nutritious school lunches in the public schools; among parents of children under 18 this increases to 58% (compared to 44% among non-parents). Schools are also seen as a possible solution to the obesity problem. 61% of Americans think that schools should not install snack food and soft drink machines even though sales from these vending machines contribute to school funds. Younger people under the age of 34 are the only group to support the placement of vending machines in schools (54%). And women are generally more supportive than men of placing limits on junk food ads and restricting school vending machines. Support for Possible Solutions to Childhood Obesity Total Respondents Favor placing limits on junk food ads 50% Oppose school vending machines 61% Willing to pay higher taxes for nutritious lunches 49%

2 Overall, Americans tend not to blame food manufacturers for the American obesity epidemic. Respondents are strongly opposed to the notion of a snack food tax as a way to tackle obesity (71%). Over 80% (84%) believe the government should prevent parents from being able to sue major soft drink and snack food companies for their children s obesity problems. And a majority (83%) oppose legally requiring food manufacturers to make their products healthier because they believe it is up to individual consumers to choose healthy foods. Better educated and wealthier respondents are even more inclined than others to believe it is up to individuals to make healthy food choices. Food Manufacturers vs. Individual Consumers Total Respondents Require food manufacturers to make healthier products 14% Up to individuals to choose healthy foods 83% Overall, Americans tend to place the blame for childhood and adult obesity squarely with poor eating habits and a lack of exercise, with diet being a somewhat more popular explanation than exercise. Young people (18-34) are the only age group to place a somewhat greater emphasis on a lack of exercise than poor diet as the cause of childhood and adult obesity. Methodology The poll was conducted between July 22 and August 12 by the Stony Brook University Center for Survey Research. 865 adults were interviewed from across the nation. The poll is based on an RDD nationally representative sample of telephone numbers drawn from blocks with at least one-listed residential number. Up to 7 contact attempts were made at each selected household and individuals were selected at random within households. Findings are weighted using poststratification weights for age, gender and census region in accordance with 2002 national Census statistics. The margin of error is plus/minus 3.3 percentage points for the entire sample. -2-

3 Q37. How serious a health problem is obesity in CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS? Total Respondents Very serious 61 Somewhat serious 32 Not very serious 4 None at all serious 1 DK/NA 1 Q38. What do you think is the PRIMARY factor causing obesity AMONG CHILDREN? Poor eating habits 44 Not enough physical activity 34 Genetics or strong family history 4 Something else 14 DK/NA 3 Q39. Do you favor or oppose the government placing limits on television advertising for junk food that is aimed at children, similar to existing limits on tobacco and alcohol ads? Favor 50 Opposed 46 DK/NA 4 Q40. Do you think it is alright for public schools to install soft drink and snack vending machines in schools as a way to raise funds, or are you opposed to this because it may contribute to children being overweight? Alright to install machines 35 Opposed 61 Neither 2 DK/NA 2 Q41. Do you favor or oppose a new government tax on junk food in order to reduce obesity among children and adults, similar to existing government taxes on cigarettes and alcohol? Favor 26 Opposed 71 DK/NA 3-3-

4 Q42. Would you be willing to pay higher federal taxes to cover the cost of more nutritious school lunch programs in the public schools, or not? Yes, willing to pay higher taxes 49 No 47 DK/NA 4 Q43. Do you think parents should be able to sue major soft drink and snack food companies if they believe their child became obese from eating junk food and drinking soft drinks, or should the government pass laws to prevent these kinds of law suits? Yes, parents should be able to sue 6 No 84 DK/NA 10 Q45. Are there any children under the age of 18 currently living in your household? Yes 35 No 64 DK/NA <1 Q46. How concerned are you about your child or children's weight? Parents with Children < 18 Very concerned 18 Somewhat concerned 22 Not very concerned 17 None at all concerned 43 DK/NA <1 Q47. Do you have any children living with you who will be attending primary, middle school, junior high, or high school in the fall? Parents with Children < 18 Yes 80 No 20 DK/NA

5 Q48. As best you can tell, how healthy is the lunch provided by your child or children's school? Parents with School- Age Children Very healthy 13 Somewhat healthy 54 Not very healthy 12 None at all healthy 6 School does not provide lunch 7 DK/NA 9 Q51. How serious a health problem is obesity AMONG ADULTS? Total Respondents Very serious 58 Somewhat serious 35 Not very serious 4 None at all serious 2 DK/NA 2 Q52. What do you think is the primary factor causing obesity among ADULTS? Poor eating habits 48 Not enough physical activity 35 Genetics or strong family history 4 Something else 11 DK/NA 2 Q53. How responsible do you think obese individuals are for their weight problems? Very responsible 51 Somewhat responsible 32 Not very responsible 8 None at all responsible 5 DK/NA 4 Q54. How responsible do you think food manufacturers are for the problem of obesity, because of the serving size and fat and sugar content of their products? Very responsible 14 Somewhat responsible 38 Not very responsible 17 None at all responsible 30 DK/NA 1-5-

6 Q55. Do you think food manufacturers should be REQUIRED BY LAW to reduce serving sizes and fat and sugar content to make their products healthier, or is it up INDIVIDUAL CONSUMERS to CHOOSE healthy food products? Total Respondents Food manufacturers should be required by law to reduce 14 Up to individual consumers 83 DK/NA 3 Sample Composition Total Respondents 865 Parents with children under Parents with school-age children