In his response to my article critical of a Pew poll, Michael Dimock, Director of the Pew Research Center, acknowledges that I raise a “legitimate point,” that “one major challenge to measuring public opinion is that people may not always know what you are asking about.” I raised this point, […] Read more »
Public Agrees on Obesity’s Impact, Not Government’s Role
Most Americans (69%) see obesity as a very serious public health problem, substantially more than the percentages viewing alcohol abuse, cigarette smoking and AIDS in the same terms. In addition, a broad majority believes that obesity is not just a problem that affects individuals: 63% say obesity has consequences for […] Read more »
Public has mixed view on banning trans fats
The Food and Drug Administration’s new proposal to severely restrict trans fats in the U.S. food supply raises questions about the role the government should play in addressing broad public health concerns. A new Pew Research Center survey suggests that the public is divided over this kind of policy. CONT. […] Read more »
The Complicated Farm-Bill Math
The evolving storyline on the current congressional debate over the Farm Bill is one of partisanship running amok as Republicans and Democrats joust over dollars that go to their respective constituencies. But the numbers indicate the reality is a bit more complicated. … The median agriculture subsidy for Romney counties […] Read more »
Single-Parent Households Struggle More to Buy Food
In the U.S., 31% of single-parent households report times in the past 12 months when they struggled to afford food, much more than the 19% of two-parent households who say the same, according to an analysis of adults aged 18 to 50. Single-parent households also report greater difficulty affording food […] Read more »
How ‘Crunch Time’ Between School And Sleep Shapes Kids’ Health
It’s an important question for American families and the nation as a whole: Why do so many kids weigh too much? There are recent hints the epidemic may be abating slightly. Still, one in every three American kids is overweight or obese. To understand why, NPR conducted a poll with […] Read more »