国际英语新闻:Obesity, bullying top childhood health concern: U.S. poll

WASHINGTON, June 18 (Xinhua) -- As the U.S. presidential election season unfolds, a new poll released Monday found that many of the country's adults want the candidates to address childhood obesity and bullying as top priorities.

Researchers from the University of Michigan recently asked adults to name the top child health concerns that the presidential candidates should address. In a survey of more than 2,100 adults, participants selected the single most important child health issue from a list of 24 common child health concerns. Overall, childhood obesity ranked highest, to be followed by bullying, drug abuse and child abuse and neglect.

About one in six adults, or 17 percent, ranked childhood obesity as top priority, and one in 7 (15 percent) put bullying as the top concern. Drug abuse was ranked highest by 11 percent and eight percent chose child abuse and neglect. Together, these four priorities were the choice of over half of U.S. adults. Answers did not differ based on the respondents' political party affiliation or race/ethnicity.

Researchers say the high ranking of childhood obesity is consistent with previous poll results and other national data, and reinforces the need for policies to help children and parents.