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A national poll has revealed that children not getting enough exercise is of utmost concern for adults in the U.S in 2012. 

The University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health revealed that for the first time, not enough exercise was rated by 39 percent of adults as one of the biggest health concerns for kids in their communities.

Approximately 12.5 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years are obese and since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.

Matthew M. Davis, director of the C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, said childhood obesity remains a top concern, and adults know it is certainly linked to lack of exercise.

"The strong perception that lack of exercise is a threat to children's health may reflect effective recent public health messages from programs such as First Lady Michelle Obama's 'Let's Move' campaign," Davis said. "But lack of exercise offers many more benefits other than weight loss or preventing obesity - such as better attention and learning in school and improved sense of well-being."

Childhood obesity, smoking and tobacco use, drug abuse, bullying, stress, alcohol abuse, teen pregnancy, Internet safety and child abuse and neglect rounded out the top 10 list. 

"The strong connection of many of the top 10 child health concerns to health behaviors among children and adolescents underscores the importance of public programs and communication initiatives," Davis said. "For example, those designed to prevent drug abuse, tobacco use, alcohol abuse and teen pregnancy."

The surveyors noted that Hispanic adults were more likely to rate childhood obesity first, followed by not enough exercise, and also rated drug abuse higher than smoking and tobacco use.

Black adults had higher levels of concern about smoking and tobacco use. They also had high levels of concern about racial inequality and gun-related injuries.

Black and Hispanic adults both identified sexually transmitted infections as a greater concern for kids in their communities than did white adults.

"Child health varies across communities, and these results emphasize a need for local programs that respect and address community-specific health priorities for youth," Davis said.