Poll Report on America's Top Health Concerns

January 2004

A new poll released by the American Cancer Society and Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) found that Americans ranked the flu epidemic, cancer and obesity as their leading health concerns.

The poll also revealed that more than three in four Americans say the government needs to spend more on health priorities and a majority of respondents felt that public health spending was vital to improving homeland security.

Additionally, a coalition of more than 370 organizations called for a 12 percent increase in the public health budget to better protect the health, safety and security of the nation. In a joint letter to the President and Members of Congress, the coalition warned that the nation’s already overextended public health system would not be able to respond adequately to ongoing and potential health threats, including infectious and food-borne illnesses, chronic disease epidemics or biological or chemical terrorism, without additional resources.