State legislators' support for evidence-based obesity reduction policies.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to gauge state legislators' level of support for evidence-based obesity reduction policies.

METHODS

A list of 17 potential obesity reduction measures was sent via a valid and reliable survey questionnaire to a random sample of 800 state legislators from all 50 United States in 2011. Legislators were asked to rate their support for each measure on a three-point Likert-type scale.

RESULTS

There were 250 questionnaires returned. Chi-square tests revealed no significant differences between respondents and non-respondents by sex, political affiliation, or chamber designation. Respondents were approximately evenly split between Republicans (n=117) and Democrats (n=122). Overall, public school and community-based measures were supported at approximately the same levels. Linear regression revealed that political affiliation, race, and perceiving obesity as a serious societal problem were significant predictors of legislator support for obesity reduction policies. Legislator body mass index, level of education, and geographic location were not significant predictors of support.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health advocates interested in promoting obesity prevention legislation at the state level are most likely to find support among non-white female Democratic legislators regardless of their BMI who perceive obesity to be a serious societal problem.