Majority of "Healthy Weight" Americans Say Obese Individuals Should Pay Higher Insurance Premiums
62% of adult Americans are overweight according to the government standard

Flemington, NJ, August 3, 2009 – A new national media study among 602 Americans revealed that the majority of “healthy weight” Americans (61%) indicated that obese individuals should pay higher insurance premiums due to the increased health risk of being overweight.

The study was conducted by HCD Research using its MediaCurves.com® website during July 30-31, to obtain viewers’ perceptions of a video discussion on whether overweight individuals should pay higher insurance costs.

The study also revealed that the majority of adults (62%) in the U.S. are classified as overweight according to the government standard, with 44% who are classified  as “moderately overweight” and 18% who are classified as “severely overweight.”

While the majority of “healthy weight” Americans (61%) reported that obese individuals should pay higher insurance premiums, 47% of “moderately overweight” Americans and 22% of “severely overweight” Americans indicated that obese individuals should pay higher insurance premiums.

Among the findings:

“Do you think classified “obese” individuals should pay higher insurance premiums?”

“Please use the chart below and select which weight category you fall into based on your weight and height.”  (See height/weight chart in “detailed results”)

While viewing the video, participants indicated their levels of agreement by moving their mouse from left to right on a continuum. The responses were recorded in quarter-second intervals and reported in the form of curves. The participants were also asked to respond to post-viewing questions.

Editors/Reporters: For more information on the study, or to speak with Glenn Kessler, president and CEO, HCD Research, please contact Vince McGourty, HCD Research, at (908) 483-9121 or (vince.mcgourty@hcdi.net).  You can also receive updates from MediaCurves.com by following us on Twitter:  http://twitter.com/mediacurves and Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Flemington-NJ/MediaCurves/86691908820

HCD Research, a marketing and communications research company headquartered in Flemington, NJ.  The company's services include traditional and web-based research.  For additional information on HCD Research, access the company’s web site at www.hcdi.net or call HCD Research at 908-788-9393.  MediaCurves.com® (www.mediacurves.com) is a media measurement website that provides the media and general public with a venue to view Americans’ perceptions of popular and controversial media events and advertisements. For more information on mediacurves.com, please contact Barbara Taylor, director, MediaCurves.com, at (908) 483-9146 or (barbara.taylor@hcdi.net).