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Correlation Between Obesity And Poverty

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The Correlation Between Obesity and Poverty

Obesity refers to an excess amount of fat. Obesity affects genders and a range of ages. More than 2 in 3 adults are considered to be overweight. While about one third of children and adolescents from age 6 to 19 are considered to be obese. Often times, healthy choices cost up to three times more than convenience foods at fast food restaurants, stores, and at home. The problem with obesity is the pricing disparity between healthy foods and unhealthy foods. Unhealthy foods are most cost efficient in comparison to healthy food choices. A person can go to a fast food restaurant and order a combo meal of a burger, fry and drink for a price that is cheaper than just ordering a salad for a healthier …show more content…

Although convenient foods are cheap and good, they can be mass-produced, and high calorie filled. It is easier to overeat junk foods to feel completely satisfied and still spend less than on healthier food choices. Convenient foods are also less likely to inflate in pricing in comparison to healthy foods. The average American spends about $7 dollars a day, while low-income people spend $4 a day. If a person has only $3 their first instinct is to plan a meal choice that gives them the most calories to fill them up. Fast food restaurants often target their advertising brands to lower income …show more content…

The students studied restaurants within half a mile of 13 housing developments and 4 residential neighborhoods in the city area of Kansas. Results showed that three quarters of the entrees at the restaurants near the public housing developments were unhealthy in containing too many calories, and fats, but not enough whole grains and vegetables. Proving that seventy-five percent of the time people choose unhealthy choices because majority of the food offered at restaurants are unhealthy. “There is the thought that people are unhealthy because they make poor choices, and that can certainly be true. But there is a huge influence from the environment that people are in that goes beyond individual responsibility.” says Katie Heinrich, the leader of the study. Lower income families tend to live no more than a mile away from the nearest grocery store but lack the transportation needed to get

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Consequently, most consumers know that restaurants like McDonald’s and Burger King are unhealthy. Arguably, the consumer doesn 't even need to read the nutrition

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The lack of transportation when living on a low income, also presents logistical obstacles to eating well. Public transport is not a viable solution for many, particularly those with young children or mobility difficulties. Lastly, a lack of knowledge or too much conflicting information on diet and health, lack of motivation and the loss of cooking skills can restrain people from buying and preparing meals from basic ingredients. Having the luxury to experiment with cooking is an indulgence that many low-income groups cannot

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In the article, “ Don’t Blame the Eater” by David Zinczenko’s, he explains that it is not the children’s fault for eating fast food but the companies who keep expanding in local areas where it is-easier-for children to get a taste. Zinczenko agrees that it is not healthy for the body and it is a worldwide problem that most families are facing today. The villain in this true story is the industries that do not stop making these unhealthy fast food for children and spread advertisement all over the media. Don’t blame the eater, blame the government to make more strict rules on a healthy environment.

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America is one of the most obese countries in the world, known for apple pie and an excessive amount of McDonald’s. As a culture, there is a lack of self control when it comes to the foods we consume. People often over consume and over indulge, which has wreaked havoc on the health and well being of those who give in to these temptations. The issue is that large corporations and even our own government play a role in helping feed the problem; they care more about profitability and benefiting the business than the health of the consumer. The health of Americans is declining and more chronic diseases and health problems are appearing as a result of unhealthy diets, but there are many different methods that can help fix this issue.

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“When incomes drop and family budgets shrink, food choices shift toward cheaper but more energy-dense foods. ... Lower diet quality separates lower-income from the more affluent Americans 3. Higher-income households are more likely to buy whole grains, seafood, lean meats, low-fat milk, and fresh vegetables and fruit” ( Drewnowski ). Not eating a healthy whole food diet can lead to health problems, weight gaining, and even obesity. Low-income families have no choice but to eat unhealthy foods because there are no affordable grocery stores close by.

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Ending Obesity Give a teenager ten dollars for lunch money more likely than not they will use it to buy some type of fast food other than a healthier choice such as fruit or salad why is this? The reason for this is because fast food and junk food are typically cheaper to buy which means the customer gets more options for their money. When men see a laden double western cheeseburger being advertized with a beautiful woman holding it next to a fancy car of course they are going to prefer that over a plain piece of grilled chicken and some white rice. The eating of fast food has become greatly common because of its convenience and affordable price, which is causing a lot of health and weight issues .18-25 year olds (millennials) are the age

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In West Oakland, California, a neighborhood of 30,000 people populated primarily by African Americans, has one supermarket and thirty- six liquor and convenience stores. Unfortunately, the supermarket is not accessible on foot to most of the area's residents. While the convenience stores are much closer in proximity to the residents, they charge twice as much as grocery stores for identical items. On the flip side, fast food restaurants—selling cheap and food—appear on almost every corner. West Oakland is not unique.

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The determinant related to obesity includes poverty and family socioeconomic status, educational attainment and

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Therefore, “Low-income communities have greater availability of fast food restaurants, especially around schools,” (“Why”). The fact that fast-food restaurants have targeted low-income areas and schools is unacceptable, there needs to be healthier, cheaper options for people living in these

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Every day, hardworking Americans make choices on what they should eat, whether it be fast food, TV dinners, sugar filled drinks, or vending machine snacks, a large amount of Americans are eating food that is high in calories, high in sugar, high in

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Also, the TV is sought to be a key to kids and their weight, it brainwashes the kids into thinking the bad food is the good food. Basically these types of commercials are a main source for the company’s money. Parents will do almost everything for their kids but sometimes the parents just give them food to stop bothering

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Obesity is a major problem in the United States, and with all the special privileges given to its people, America has become very lazy. With portion sizes rising and physical activity decreasing, it is easy to see how the rates on obesity has risen over the years in America. Obesity is a major problem that needs to be resolved because it affects all people of every gender, age, and race are at risk of being obese. Obesity rates in America have nearly doubled rather tripled within the last twenty years due to the many privileges that the American people have before us. Something must be done to overcome decrease the

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Today life is on the fast track. People are always on the go and don’t have time to properly take care of themselves or their families. For most Americans, fast food and junk food are ready to grab for a snack or a quick dinner. They don’t slow down to think about how the foods they are eating effect their long term health. Fewer and fewer families take the time to prepare a nutritious meal and are passing down bad habits to their children.

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Anyone can walk down the street and see a fast food place almost anywhere they go. Humans have a tendency to be lazy. It 's much easier to go down the street and pick up a hamburger than to make a low-calorie meal at home. It 's less complex to the consumer. According to a Heidi Godman, executive editor of Harvard 's Health Letter "teenagers and kids consumed far more calories in fast-food and other restaurants than they did at home.

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This means that healthy food it’s not really that expensive it’s just people making wrong decisions in wrong choices of their eating habits. That means that poor eating habits are just excuses because in some cases it’s not a economic reason. The income gap affects food choices is it in the sense that people are not driven to pick up a healthy organic lettuce or a healthy organic carrots, people that are struggling with money may have stress eating disorder so they look for food stable saturate them and often end up buying some mac & cheese or some frozen dinner plates.” If you’re living from paycheck to paycheck and on a limited budget, you’re probably more likely to skip the organic vegetables and reach for the boxed mac and cheese instead”-Mike Collins.

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