Ukmedix has been studying research that shows that almost three quarters of people think that the blame for the rising obesity in children lies with parents. Only 13% feel that adverts and food manufacturers could be blamed for the increasing phenomenon of children being overweight and obese. Other things that got blame were the government, restaurants and schools all of whom each only received 1% of the votes.

The survey was done in 8 different countries and asked people who or what they really felt was responsible for the increase in obesity in children. Altogether 71% of the almost 100,000 people asked said that mothers and father were biggest culprits. Fir example in Sweden 81% of people blemed parebts for child obesity and in the UK the figure was 78%. In Australia  the figure was 77% and in Italy only 57% of people blamed parents with far more (24%) blaming advertisers of junk and unhealthy food. Slightly more women blamed parents for the obesity than men did with the respective blame figure being 73% and 67%.

Recently many politicians and newspapers have been making moves to have food advertising regulated as they argue that this is a major cause of obesity however it seems that public opinion does not feel the same way about this. The survey was done in the UK, Italy, France, Germany, Holland, Spain, Sweden and in Australia over the month of June 2006 and has surprised many people with the fact that most people feel that it is parents that should take the blame for obesity and educate their children about good eating habits.