The Los Angeles Times reports on a new survey commissioned by the California Endowment saying that “nearly 60% of those polled, up from 46% eight years ago, called childhood obesity a ‘very serious’ problem, according to the survey of 1,005 registered voters. In addition, one in three cited unhealthy eating habits more than any other factor - including illegal drug use and violence - as the ‘greatest health risk’ for children in California. More than half said they would support a tax on soda and soft drinks to fund the fight against childhood obesity, and 61% said all drinks with added sugars should be banned from schools.”
The story also says that “three-quarters of those asked said businesses and governments should promote healthier behavior. Nearly 90% of that group favored requiring physical education classes for four years in high school; keeping school gyms, tracks, playgrounds and fields open when school is out; and making street improvements so it is easier to bike and walk.
“Nearly two-thirds of those polled said supermarkets should be encouraged to open in low income neighborhoods. Although 61% of those polled said it was very easy to find fresh fruit and vegetables locally, just 19% of parents in six low-income communities the endowment polled agreed.”
The story also says that “three-quarters of those asked said businesses and governments should promote healthier behavior. Nearly 90% of that group favored requiring physical education classes for four years in high school; keeping school gyms, tracks, playgrounds and fields open when school is out; and making street improvements so it is easier to bike and walk.
“Nearly two-thirds of those polled said supermarkets should be encouraged to open in low income neighborhoods. Although 61% of those polled said it was very easy to find fresh fruit and vegetables locally, just 19% of parents in six low-income communities the endowment polled agreed.”
- KC's View:
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I’m intrigued by the sentence, “More than half said they would support a tax on soda and soft drinks to fund the fight against childhood obesity, and 61% said all drinks with added sugars should be banned from schools.”
Now, I understand that poll questions can be phrased in leading ways, and that not all polls can be trusted.
But if this number is close to accurate, what does it say to people who complain about the “nanny state,” saying that it inappropriately assesses fees and imposes rules that infringe on people’s freedom.
These numbers sort of suggest that a majority of people believe that the government, acting as a tool of the people, needs to take a public policy position towards obesity that acknowledges it as a health,m fiscal and national security problem.
Some will say that this is because all Californians are Marxists, and we’d be better off if the state fell into the Pacific. (You know who you are; this saves you the trouble of sending me an email expressing this position.) But some others will say that Californians are more enlightened than others.
