More than eight out of 10 New York state residents consider childhood obesity to be a major problem and almost half favor a government ban on candy and soda advertising on children's television programming, according to a Cornell University report based on state polling data.

Of New York residents polled, 81 percent label childhood obesity a "major problem" in the United States, and 63 percent think that the government should ban the sale of candy, soda and chips in schools, according to the report, "New York State Residents' Support for Policies to Reduce Childhood Obesity," authored by John Cawley, associate professor of policy analysis and management at Cornell.

"The share of overweight children in the U.S. has more than tripled since 1970, and New York state residents are concerned," said Cawley.

Cawley crafted questions about childhood obesity for the 2006 Empire State Poll, a survey of New York residents that is conducted annually by Cornell's Survey Research Institute; its 2006 findings were released in September.

The Cawley report also indicates that more than half -- 56 percent -- of New York's residents oppose raising taxes on candy and sweets. More than a third -- 36 percent -- oppose paying higher taxes to reduce childhood obesity, compared with 16 percent who would pay more than $200 per year in additional taxes for such a cause.

"Overall, the results suggest that state policies for addressing childhood obesity would receive the most support if they focused on high-calorie foods sold in our schools," Cawley concluded.