Field Poll: When It Comes to Kids’ Health Risks, Public Now More Worried About Healthy Eating, Exercise than Drugs or Violence

A new Field Poll shows that public concerns over the biggest threats to children’s health are shifting to nutrition and exercise, rather than drugs or violence.

The new Poll, which surveyed more than 1,000 California voters in late 2013, found that:

…the proportion of Californians citing unhealthy eating or a lack of physical activity among kids’ top two health risks has grown over the past ten years to 59%, and now far outranks the next highest ranking concern, illegal drug use (43%) by a considerable margin. Next most frequently mentioned is the threat of violence to children cited by 31%.

Their concerns may be well-founded. According to kidsdata.org:

• Only about 25% of California 5^th graders in public schools meet state physical fitness standards for students.

• Just over half of California 5^th graders in public schools are considered to be at a healthy weight or underweight.

• About 41% of children consume one or more sugary drinks (soda, juice) daily

• About 37% of children reportedly eat two or more servings of fast food each week

For more comprehensive information on children’s weight, nutrition and fitness – including how California children are faring and policy implications, check out these links:

Kidsdata.org Topic Summary: Physical Fitness

Kidsdata.org Topic Summary: Nutrition

Kidsdata.org Topic Summary: Weight

Posted by Barbara Feder Ostrov

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