Parents to Blame for Child Obesity

A recent global survey by Lightspeed Research reveals that nearly 3 out of every 4 respondents blame parents for the rise in obesity in children, while advertisers and food manufacturers were each blamed by only 13% of respondents.

The Government, schools, and restaurants were felt to be the least to blame, each receiving only 1% of the votes.

The poll, which ran in 8 countries around the world, asked respondents to identify who they felt was most responsible for the rise in obesity in kids. In total 71% of the 99,109 respondents felt that parents were the most to blame, with the highest level of blame shown in Sweden (81%), GB (78%) and Australia (77%). Italy blamed parents the least (57%), however almost a quarter of respondents in Italy blamed advertisers (24 %) for the rise in child obesity.

There was very little difference between the sexes when pointing the finger of blame, although females did blame parents slightly more than males (73% vs. 67%).

David Day, CEO Europe comments 'With all the negative publicity and political attempts to legislate advertisers, food manufacturers, and schools it is interesting to learn that the overwhelming global public opinion clearly blames parents for the rise in obesity in children.'

The poll was conducted in Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden and Australia among 99,109 respondents in June 2006.

The company is online at www.lightspeedresearch.com

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.

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