Correlation Between Obesity And Poverty

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

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

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