October 21, 2005
Report & Analysis · Data · Other Poll Releases
ATHENS, Ga. -- Georgians see childhood obesity as a high priority health issue, one that the state should take steps to address, according to the latest Peach State Poll. Thirty percent believe that childhood obesity should be a top health priority, and additional 40 percent feel that it should be a high priority (see Figure 1).
Georgians see the public school system as one institution in a position to address childhood obesity. Seven in 10 Georgians believe that public school officials should make parents of overweight children aware of the possible health consequences of their child’s weight.
The Peach State Poll is a quarterly survey of public opinion conducted by the University of Georgia’s Carl Vinson Institute of Government.
Other Peach State Poll results:
• Most Georgians either strongly support or somewhat support confidential height/weight reporting (37 percent and 22 percent, respectively) for Georgia’s public school children. Of those who oppose such reporting, nearly one-half (48 percent) would change their mind if parents were allowed to choose whether or not their child participated.
• The majority of Georgians (60 percent) support legislation that would remove high-sugar beverages from public schools. Sixty-six percent would also support the removal of high-sugar, high-fat junk foods from public school vending machines.
• In general, Georgians favor legislation that would provide citizens with more informed choices about nutrition. Eighty percent of Georgians support policies that would require fast food and chain restaurants to list their nutritional information on menus and menu boards.
These data were taken from a Peach State Poll survey conducted between July 25 and August 5, 2005. The poll included 803 telephone interviews of randomly selected adults in Georgia. For a sample of this size, the margin of error at the 95 percent confidence level is +/-3.5 percent.
The Carl Vinson Institute of Government, a public service and outreach unit of the University of Georgia, has as part of its mission to provide policymakers with systematic, objective research to inform policy decisions. In accordance with that mission, the Peach State Poll aims to give voice to the public on important policy matters and issues pertaining to political, social and economic life in Georgia.
