Childhood Obesity a Major Health Issue: Poll
A New York Times/CBS News poll finds many American adults consider overweight children and teenagers to be a major health concern.
The poll found that 87 percent of respondents say there are more overweight children and teenagers now than when the respondents were young. And two-thirds of the adults surveyed agree with experts that the problem is an important public health issue.
A lack of healthful foods served at home was cited by 27 percent of those polled as a reason for the increase in overweight children. And 22 percent blamed the increasingly inactive lifestyles of many children.
The proliferation of fast food was targeted as the culprit by 21 percent of respondents. Among those who identified themselves as parents, 48 percent said their children consumed more fast food than they did when they were young.
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-- Scott Roberts and Robert Preidt
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