After being rated third in 2007, obesity in children is now rated by adults as the number one health problem in the U.S.,  according to an annual report by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health. Smoking and drug abuse outranked childhood obesity last year, but now those concerns have been pushed lower on the list, followed closely by bullying, internet safety, child abuse and neglect, teen pregnancy, alcohol abuse, AD/HD, sexually transmitted infection, chemicals in the environment and not enough opportunity for physical activity.

The poll included participation from 2, 064 adults (aged 18 and over), who were asked to rate 20 different health problems for children living in their communities. Approximately ¾ of the households surveyed included children. Director of the National Poll on Children’s Health, Matthew M. Davis, M.D., says, “The National Poll on Children’s Health report clearly shows that adults in America are very concerned about the problem of childhood obesity and its causes. While recent studies have suggested that the childhood obesity epidemic may be leveling off, the results of this poll reveal that adults in the U.S. are still very much concerned about this issue.”

1. Childhood obesity
2. Drug abuse
3. Smoking
4. Bullying
5. Internet safety
6. Child abuse and neglect
7. Teen pregnancy
8. Alcohol abuse
9. (Tie) Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and sexually transmitted infection
10. (Tie) Chemicals in the environment and not enough opportunities for physical activity

To read the full report,

visit http://health.med.umich.edu/workfiles/npch/20080714-topten-report.pdf .

Do you agree with the list or do you think there’s a bigger concern for children than obesity?

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