---
title: "Majority Sees Role for Government in Reducing Childhood Obesity"
description: "Nearly six-in-ten Americans (57%) said in a March 2011 survey that the government should play a significant role in reducing obesity among children."
date: "2012-06-05"
authors:
  - name: "Russell Heimlich"
    job_title: "Former web developer"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/russell-heimlich/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2012/06/05/majority-sees-role-for-government-in-reducing-childhood-obesity/"
---

# Majority Sees Role for Government in Reducing Childhood Obesity

Most Americans said last year that the government should play a significant role in reducing obesity among children. But there was strong opposition to government involvement in this effort among conservative Republicans and Tea Party supporters.

In a March 2011 survey, 57% said the government should play a significant role in reducing obesity among children; 39% said it should not.

The survey found wide partisan and ideological differences regarding the government’s role in combating obesity. Overall, about seven-in-ten Democrats (71%) said the government should have a significant role, compared with 57% of independents and 41% of Republicans.

Four-in-five liberal Democrats (80%) said the government should have a major role in tackling this issue, a view shared by just 37% of conservative Republicans. [Read More](https://www.pewresearch.org/politics/2011/03/08/most-see-role-for-government-in-reducing-childhood-obesity/)