A recent survey developed by West Virginia University P.I. Reed School of Journalism graduate students found that while most West Virginians agree that obesity is the most serious and preventable health issue facing them today, few are taking action to prevent the disease.

The students hope to use the results of the study to raise awareness about obesity, spur discussion, and possibly find long-range answers to the critical health issue.

When asked to rate the seriousness of health issues in West Virginia, including tobacco use, heart disease, cancer, alcohol and drug abuse, diabetes, and depression and anxiety, an overwhelming 94 percent of respondents identified obesity as the states most serious health problem. Respondents also identified obesity as the most preventable public health issue facing the statechoosing this problem over tobacco use, ATV accidents, alcohol/drug abuse and domestic violence.

Most respondents, 80 percent, also believe that obesity is a problem of personal accountability as opposed to genetics or disease. Seventy-one percent of respondents said that people accepting greater responsibility for what they eat and drink is the most effective remedy to obesity. State government legislation was considered the least effective remedy to obesity.

While 60 percent of those surveyed said exercise and fitness programs are very effective, a majority55 percentsaid they engage in exercise or physical activity less than two days per week or not at all. This includes activities such as working out, gardening and cleaning.

When asked to evaluate their current personal weight, men were more likely than women to consider their weight acceptable. Seventy-four percent of women admitted to being overweight, while only 55 percent of men said they were overweight. The study concluded that West Virginia women have healthier habits than men. Women respondents were more likely to have recent medical checkups and less likely to eat at fast food restaurants.

While nearly all respondents understood the relationship between obesity and health problems such as high blood pressure (97 percent), heart disease (95 percent), stroke (95 percent) and diabetes (92 percent), less than half understood the connection between obesity and osteoarthritis (48 percent) and some forms of cancer (38 percent).

I am very proud of our students for helping raise awareness about this important health issue,said WVU School of Journalism Dean Maryanne Reed.This project will help to stimulate the dialogue about one of the states most critical health issues and may contribute to finding long term solutions.

Senior public relations major Eva Brueschwiler of Munich, Germany, who worked on the project, agreed.

If our awareness campaign can help to change someones life for the better, our project was successful,Brueschwiler said.

The on-line survey was conducted March 1-5 among a random sample of West Virginians, age 18 and older, generally representative of the states population by age and gender. Interviews were completed among 302 participants. The overall sampling error for this study is +/-5.6 percentage points at the 95 percent confidence level.

R.L. Repass&Partners, Inc., a full-service opinion and marketing research firm headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, conducted the survey for the WVU School of Journalism. The firms clients include Fortune 500 companies, state and national trade associations, the news media, government agencies, advertising firms and public relations counselors. Rex Repass, the firms president and chief executive officer and a West Virginia native, was instrumental in the development of the West Virginia Poll, a statewide public opinion survey for the Charleston Daily Mail, the Associated Press and WSAZ Television.