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
Obesity a very serious problem for American children
Very concerned about weight of own child/children
Parents of Children <18
55%
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
Favor placing limits on junk food ads
Oppose school vending machines
Willing to pay higher taxes for nutritious lunches
Total Respondents
50%
61%
49%
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
Require food manufacturers to make healthier products
Up to individuals to choose healthy foods
Total Respondents
14%
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.
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STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA
July 22-August 12, 2003
Q37. How serious a health problem is obesity in CHILDREN AND TEENAGERS?
Very serious
Somewhat serious
Not very serious
None at all serious
DK/NA
Total
Respondents
61
32
4
1
1
Q38. What do you think is the PRIMARY factor causing obesity AMONG CHILDREN?
Poor eating habits
Not enough physical activity
Genetics or strong family history
Something else
DK/NA
44
34
4
14
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
Opposed
DK/NA
50
46
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
Opposed
Neither
DK/NA
35
61
2
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
Opposed
DK/NA
26
71
3
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STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA
July 22-August 12, 2003
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
No
DK/NA
49
47
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
No
DK/NA
6
84
10
Q45. Are there any children under the age of 18 currently living in your household?
Yes
No
DK/NA
35
64
<1
Q46. How concerned are you about your child or children's weight?
Very concerned
Somewhat concerned
Not very concerned
None at all concerned
DK/NA
Parents with
Children < 18
18
22
17
43
<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?
Yes
No
DK/NA
Parents with
Children < 18
80
20
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STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA
July 22-August 12, 2003
Q48. As best you can tell, how healthy is the lunch provided by your child or children's school?
Very healthy
Somewhat healthy
Not very healthy
None at all healthy
School does not provide lunch
DK/NA
Parents with SchoolAge Children
13
54
12
6
7
9
Q51. How serious a health problem is obesity AMONG ADULTS?
Very serious
Somewhat serious
Not very serious
None at all serious
DK/NA
Total
Respondents
58
35
4
2
2
Q52. What do you think is the primary factor causing obesity among ADULTS?
Poor eating habits
Not enough physical activity
Genetics or strong family history
Something else
DK/NA
48
35
4
11
2
Q53. How responsible do you think obese individuals are for their weight problems?
Very responsible
Somewhat responsible
Not very responsible
None at all responsible
DK/NA
51
32
8
5
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
Somewhat responsible
Not very responsible
None at all responsible
DK/NA
14
38
17
30
1
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STONY BROOK UNIVERSITY HEALTH PULSE OF AMERICA
July 22-August 12, 2003
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?
Food manufacturers should be required by law to reduce…
Up to individual consumers
DK/NA
Total
Respondents
14
83
3
Sample Composition
Total Respondents
Parents with children under 18
Parents with school-age children
865
306
244
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