Children's opinions on why some people of their age are overweight; US children (n 1224) (, tweens, aged 8–12 years; , teens, aged 13–18 years) participating in an online survey, January 2010. Children were asked to select three reasons that are important. The choices were: ‘it's not safe for them to walk or play outside’; ‘they don't have enough gym or PE classes at school’; ‘they eat or drink too much sugar, candy or soda’; ‘they eat or drink food that has too much fat’; ‘they eat or drink too much food’; ‘their parents are overweight’; ‘it's too easy to get foods and drinks with lots of sugar’; ‘it's too hard to get fresh fruits and vegetables’; ‘something else (TEXT BOX)’; and ‘I don't know’. ‘Lack of exercise/PA’; ‘prefer computers/TV/video games’; and ‘laziness/don't get up and move’ were coded categories of ‘something else (TEXT BOX)’ responses. (Abbreviations: PE, physical education; PA, physical activity; TV, television)