Preventing Chronic Disease | Public Opinion on Nutrition-Related Policies to Combat Child Obesity, Los Angeles County, 2011 - CDC

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Preventing Chronic Disease | Public Opinion on Nutrition-Related Policies to Combat Child Obesity, Los Angeles County, 2011 - CDC

Public Opinion on Nutrition-Related Policies to Combat Child Obesity, Los Angeles County, 2011

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• Abstract
• Objective
• Methods
• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
• References
• Table

Paul A. Simon, MD, MPH; Choiyuk Chiang, MPH; Amy S. Lightstone, MPH; Margaret Shih, MD, PhD

Suggested citation for this article: Simon PA, Chiang C, Lightstone AS, Shih M. Public Opinion on Nutrition-Related Policies to Combat Child Obesity, Los Angeles County, 2011. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:140005. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.140005.

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Abstract

We assessed public opinion on nutrition-related policies to address child obesity: a soda tax, restrictions on advertising unhealthy foods and beverages to children, and restrictions on siting fast food restaurants and convenience stores near schools. We analyzed data from 998 adults (aged ≥18 years) in the 2011 Los Angeles County Health Survey. Support was highest for advertising restrictions (74%), intermediate for a soda tax (60%), and lowest for siting restrictions on fast food restaurants and convenience stores (44% and 37%, respectively). Support for food and beverage advertising restrictions and soda taxation is promising for future policy efforts to address child obesity.

Author Information

Corresponding Author: Paul A. Simon, MD, MPH, Director, Division of Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, 3530 Wilshire Blvd, 8th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90010. Telephone: 213-351-7825. E-mail: psimon@ph.lacounty.gov.

Author Affiliations: Choiyuk Chiang, Amy S. Lightstone, Margaret Shih, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Los Angeles, California.

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References

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