Children and Obesity - US

Published: September 2011

Publisher: Mintel International Group Ltd

Product ref: 130194

Pages: 100

Format: PDF

Delivery: By product vendor

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Price:$ 3995.00In stock

Price: $ 3995.00

Report description

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, as recently as 2008 nearly 17% of kids in the U.S. are obese, which is triple the percentage in 1980 and amounts to no less than an epidemic. There are myriad reasons for the catastrophic rise in obese kids, but the bottom line is that today’s children are consuming too many calories and exerting too little energy. Moreover, the number of chronic and severe diseases and health conditions associated with obesity—including diabetes and cancer—indicates that without some type of solution the kids of today will be the patients of tomorrow. This report provides close analysis of these factors, as well as in-depth examination of the following:

The role of environment in childhood obesity, including lack of nutritious foods in many schools; a dearth of safe and adequate places to exercise in many low-income areas; and poor nutrition and exercise regimes in many homes
The gradual increase in portion sizes over the years and the proliferation of fast-food chains, which market aggressively to kids
The higher costs of healthy foods and how that impacts children’s nutrition when many parents are struggling with tighter household budgets
How potential underreporting of childhood obesity can occur and how parents may be unwilling to recognize the problem in their own kids
Innovations in food manufacturing and advertising that may contribute to a solution
Marketing strategies of companies that are making inroads, large and small, into helping the anti-obesity cause

Table of contents

Scope and Themes
What you need to know
Definition
Data sources
Consumer survey data
Advertising creative
Abbreviations and terms
Abbreviations
Terms
Executive Summary
Insights and opportunities
Childhood obesity statistics
Why are kids obese?
Most people blame people
The impact of race/Hispanic origin
Parents’ assessment of kids’ weight
Innovations and innovators
Restaurants start to fall in line
New food and drink labeling expected to increase healthy food choices
MyPlate
Marketing strategies during an obesity epidemic
Children’s eating habits and limitations
Parents’ attitudes toward kids’ diets
Children’s exercise
Promoting health to kids
Health strategies for kids
Information sources for childhood obesity
Insights and Opportunities
Shift in criteria for foods advertised to kids may spell opportunity
Prenatal anti-obesity
More sleep, less weight?
Foster homes as healthy environments
Insurance companies get involved
Inspire Insights
Trend: Life Coaching
Childhood Obesity Statistics
Key points
Rate of childhood obesity triples between 1980 and 2008

Figure 1: Let’s Move! ad, 2011

Obesity underreporting very likely

Figure 2: Parents’ assessment of children’s weight, by age of child, April-May 2011
Figure 3: Prevalence of obesity among children/teens aged 2-19, 1976-2008
Figure 4: Child population by age, 2006-16

The future for obese kids

Figure 5: Rate of adult obesity, by age, 2010

Why combating obesity matters
Why Are Kids Obese?
Quick Service Restaurants - US - September 2011 -Key points
Too many calories and too little exercise
Poor food and beverage choices on school campuses

Figure 6: Availability of various foods on school campuses, October 2009-December 2010

Lack of adequate daily exercise and safe, appealing places to exercise
Increasing portion sizes

Figure 7: Average per capita consumption in pounds and daily calorie consumption, 1970-2003

Limited access to healthy and affordable foods, and greater access to calorie-rich foods and sugary drinks

Figure 8: Use of fast food restaurants and reasons for use, October 2009-December 2010
Figure 9: McDonald’s Happy Meals ad, 2010

The influence of media
Stagnant economy can translate to poorer dietary choices
Most say people themselves responsible for obesity epidemic

Figure 10: Responsibility for the obesity epidemic, April-May 2011
Figure 11: Responsibility for the obesity epidemic, by presence of children in the household, April-May 2011

Blacks and Hispanics are more prone to obesity than whites

Figure 12: U.S. black child population, by age, 2006-16
Figure 13: U.S. Hispanic child population, by age, 2006-16

Innovations and Innovators—How the Food and Beverage Industry and the Government Are Helping
Restaurants join the cause
Food and beverage industry revamps labeling to help inform consumers
USDA unveils new dietary guidelines icon
Some healthful food product health/weight-related claims increase

Figure 14: Top 10 health/weight-related claims as percent of total food and nonalcoholic drink launches marketed for children aged 5-12, 2006-11*

Marketing Strategies During an Obesity Epidemic
Overview of the brand landscape
Brand analysis: Chef Boyardee

Figure 15: Brand analysis of Chef Boyardee, 2011

Online initiatives
TV presence

Figure 16: Chef Boyardee Beefaroni, TV ad, 2010

Brand analysis: Nutella

Figure 17: Brand analysis of Nutella, 2011

Online initiatives
TV presence

Figure 18: Nutella TV ad, 2010

Print and other
Brand analysis: Nintendo Wii

Figure 19: Brand analysis of Nintendo Wii, 2011

Online initiatives
TV presence

Figure 20: Nintendo Wii TV ad, 2011

Print and other
Children’s Eating Habits and Limitations
Key points
A quarter of child respondents use diet/lite products

Figure 21: Children’s dieting habits, by gender and age, October 2009-December 2010

Six in 10 kids say breakfast is the most important meal

Figure 22: Attitudes toward healthy and unhealthy eating, by gender and age, October 2009-December 2010

As kids age, parents less likely to control food types their kids eat

Figure 23: Limitations on children’s eating, by age of child, April-May 2011

Parents’ Attitudes toward Kids’ Diet
Key points
Parents weigh in on kids’ eating habits

Figure 24: Children’s eating habits, by age of child, April-May 2011

Majority of parents say controlling diet for kids aged 2-5 easier at home

Figure 25: Eating habits of children aged 2-5, by gender of parent, April-May 2011

As kids age, parents more likely to trust their nutritional choices

Figure 26: Eating habits of children aged 6-9, by gender of parent, April-May 2011

For kids aged 10-12, parents still feel controlling diet easiest at home

Figure 27: Eating habits of children aged 10-12, by gender of parent, April-May 2011

The role of household income among parents with kids aged 10-12

Figure 28: Eating habits of children aged 10-12, by household income, April-May 2011

For kids aged 13-15, parents leaving more nutritional choices up to them

Figure 29: Eating habits of children aged 13-15, by gender of parent, April-May 2011

Most parents say nutrition up to kids by age 16-17

Figure 30: Eating habits of children aged 16-17, by gender of parent, April-May 2011

The role of household income among parents with kids aged 16-17

Figure 31: Eating habits of children aged 16-17, by household income, April-May 2011

Children’s Exercise
Key points
Adequate weekly physical activity fades as kids age

Figure 32: Children’s exercise habits, by age of child, April-May 2011

Time spent exercising increases for younger kids between 2009 and 2011

Figure 33: Average amount of activity per week, by child/ren’s age, December 2008

A vast majority of kids aged 6-11 play sports

Figure 34: Top 20 sports children participated in the last 12 months, by gender and age, October 2009-December 2010

Promoting Health to Kids
Key points
Promoting healthy eating for kids is the top priority

Figure 35: Importance of promoting health for children, by gender of parent, April-May 2011

Younger respondents most likely to say nutrition/exercise are important

Figure 36: Importance of promoting health for children, by age of parent, April-May 2011

All parents agree on promoting kids’ health

Figure 37: Importance of promoting health for children, all parents vs. those with overweight children, April-May 2011

Health Strategies for Kids
Key points
Interest in health/weight strategies could be higher

Figure 38: Interest in health-promoting strategies, April-May 2011

Women more likely to be interested in recipe/meal plans and informational programs

Figure 39: Interest in health-promoting strategies, by gender of parent, April-May 2011

Younger parents more invested in health strategies

Figure 40: Interest in health-promoting strategies, by age of parent, April-May 2011

All parents more interested in strategies than parents of overweight kids

Figure 41: Interest in health-promoting strategies, all parents vs. those with overweight children, April-May 2011

Information Sources for Childhood Obesity
Key points
Most rely on doctor/nurse practitioner for kids’ health information

Figure 42: Children’s health Information source rating, April-May 2011

Younger parents most likely rate all information sources favorably

Figure 43: Children’s health Information source “very good” rating, by age of parent, April-May 2011

Older parents more likely to call information sources “OK”

Figure 44: Children’s health Information source “OK” rating, by age of parent, April-May 2011

Cluster Analysis
Health-Driven Parents
Demographics
Characteristics
Opportunity
Health-Disinterested Parents
Demographics
Characteristic
Opportunity
Self-Sufficient Parents
Demographics
Characteristics
Opportunity
Cluster characteristic tables

Figure 45: Children obesity clusters, April-May 2011
Figure 46: Importance of promoting health for children, by clusters, April-May 2011
Figure 47: Interest in health-promoting strategies, by clusters, April-May 2011
Figure 48: Children’s health Information source rating, by clusters, April-May 2011

Cluster demographic tables

Figure 49: Children obesity clusters, by parents’ gender, April-May 2011
Figure 50: Children obesity clusters, by parents’ age, April-May 2011
Figure 51: Children obesity clusters by household income, April-May 2011

Cluster methodology
Custom Consumer Groups—Parent’s BMI
Key points
Obese/extremely obese more likely to say their kids 6-17 are overweight

Figure 52: Weight rating of children, by age, by BMI of parent, April-May 2011

Overweight and obese/extremely obese most likely to endorse diet/meal plans for kids

Figure 53: Interest in health-promoting strategies, by BMI of parent, April-May 2011

Appendix—Other Useful Consumer Tables
Parents’ attitudes toward kids’ diet

Figure 54: Eating habits of children under age 2, by household income, April-May 2011
Figure 55: Eating habits of children aged 2-5, by age of parent, April-May 2011
Figure 56: Eating habits of children aged 2-5, by household income, April-May 2011
Figure 57: Eating habits of children aged 6-9, by household income, April-May 2011
Figure 58: Eating habits of children aged 10-12, by age of parent, April-May 2011
Figure 59: Eating habits of children aged 13-15, by household income, April-May 2011
Promoting health to kids
Figure 60: Importance of promoting health for children, by household income, April-May 2011
Figure 61: Importance of promoting health for children, by marital status of parent, April-May 2011

Health strategies for kids

Figure 62: Interest in health-promoting strategies, by household income, April-May 2011
Figure 63: Interest in health-promoting strategies, by marital status of parent, April-May 2011

Appendix—Trade Associations

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