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Title: POLITICS OF THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC: RESULTS OF THE 2003 LOUISIANA PHYSICIANS SURVEY

Author
item RYAN, DONNA - PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RES
item CHAMPAGNE, CATHERINE - PENNINGTON BIOMEDICAL RES

Submitted to: Louisiana State Medical Society
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/6/2004
Publication Date: 1/3/2005
Citation: Ryan, D.H., Champagne, C.M. 2005. Politics of the obesity epidemic: Results of the 2003 Louisiana Physicians Survey. Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society. 156(Special Issue: Obesity):S28-S33.

Interpretive Summary: As a result of the epidemic of obesity sweeping the United States, where 2/3 of Americans are now considered overweight and 1/3 are considered obese, there is a growing interest in public policy measures to prevent and remediate the problem. In 2003, we conducted a survey of primary care physicians in one urban and four rural parishes (counties) in Louisiana. The survey addressed health policies related to obesity and overweight control and, as well, other public health threats, such as helmet laws and smoking. The survey also collected information about the physicians' personal data, such as weight status, income, type of practice, gender, and age. We mailed 993 surveys and received 218 responses. Of the respondents, 74% were male, 55% were from the urban parish, and 84% had an income greater than $100,000. Our findings demonstrated that there was less support for public policy measures to control the obesity epidemic than there was for other public health measures. There were 74% of respondents who supported helmet laws, 73% who supported anti-smoking regulations, and 62% who supported increased cigarette taxation. However, only 60% supported limiting food advertisements and only 29% supported taxing unhealthy foods. Most striking was that only 16% supported governmental involvement to limit discrimination of the obese. Our study demonstrates that if we are to develop effective public policies targeting obesity prevention and remediation, efforts must be made to influence the attitudes of physicians, since they are key opinion leaders in matters of health.

Technical Abstract: The obesity epidemic is producing growing interest in public policy measures targeting prevention. We developed a printed survey suitable for mailing to primary care physicians in Louisiana. Questions were asked concerning health policies relating to motorcycle helmet use, smoking, and obesity. We also obtained personal data, including type of practice, gender, age, ethnicity, personal income, height, and weight. Of 993 surveys mailed, there were 218 responses: 74% were male, 55% were from East Baton Rouge Parish, an urban location, and 84% had an income of >$100,000. Of respondents, 74% strongly agreed with helmet laws, 73% strongly agreed with limitations on smoking spaces, and 62% strongly agreed with cigarette taxation. Concerning health policies related to obesity prevention, strongest support was for school concession policies, with 73% reporting strong agreement or agreement. There was support for regulating food advertisements, where 60% agree or strongly agree. However, only 29% agree or strongly agree with the taxing of unhealthy foods, compared to 78% of respondents favoring cigarette taxation, a statistically significant difference (<0.0001). Support was particularly weak for governmental involvement in obesity discrimination with only 16% of respondents agreeing or strongly agreeing. Political response to the obesity epidemic is only now emerging. However, our survey indicates that support among Louisiana physicians for obesity-related policy is not equal to support for policies directed against helmet and smoking laws.