Consumers blame parents, not advertisers for fat kids
Most consumers blamed parents for the rise in childhood obesity, with only 13% blaming advertisers and food manufacturers, according to a global survey of more than 99,000 respondents.
The global poll by Lightspeed Research revealed nearly three out of every four respondents blamed parents for the rise in obesity in children, while advertisers and food manufacturers were each blamed by 13% of respondents.
The government, schools, and restaurants were felt to be the least to blame, each receiving only 1% of the votes.
The research was conducted in June in eight countries – Australia, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and Sweden.
It 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 parents were the most to blame, with the highest level of blame shown in Sweden (81%), Great Britain (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.
Of the Australian respondents, 12% said advertisers were the most responsible for child obesity; 9% blamed food manufacturers; 77% blamed parents; 1% blamed government; 1% blamed restaurants and 1% blamed schools.
Lightspeed Research Europe CEO, David Day, said: “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”.
