In a survey of more than 2,100 adults, obesity and bullying ranked at the top of a list of childhood health issues that merit policy discussion during the presidential campaign.

Drug abuse and child abuse and neglect also ranked near the top of the poll, conducted by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital to determine which of 24 common child health concerns adults think this year’s presidential candidates should address.

Childhood obesity (17%), bullying (15%), drug abuse (11%) and child abuse and neglect (8%) together accounted for more than half the responses in the study. Answers did not differ based on the respondents’ political party affiliation or race/ethnicity.

"Healthcare reform is a major topic during this election season, but much of that focuses on uninsured adults and the costs of healthcare," Matthew M. Davis, MD, MAPP, director of the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital National Poll on Children’s Health, said in a news release. "The health of children usually is not the focus of political talk."

Many serious health problems for adults stem from behaviors and patterns — such as obesity, heart disease, diabetes and depression — that begin in childhood, thus reinforcing the need for policies of early intervention, Davis said.

"By asking about children’s health and health policy, we hope to bring the public’s voice to the policymakers," said Davis, an associate professor in the Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit and the Division of General Medicine at the U-M Medical School, and associate professor of public policy at the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy.

"We found that no matter their politics or race/ethnicity, adults in the U.S. agree on these top child health priorities.

Davis said 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. "The federal government is currently responsible for many programs that may have an impact on childhood obesity, like school lunches, encouragement of physical activity and subsidies for specific food items," he said.

"But the public is aware that more may be needed, and seems eager to hear from presidential candidates that they’ve made this a priority."

The public also recognizes that bullying, whether on the playground, at school or even online, also can lead to both immediate and lasting health problems for children, Davis said. "These are common issues that we can agree on, no matter your choice of presidential candidates," he said.

The full report is available for downloading at http://bit.ly/MJdSVc.