Poverty and Obesity, a Poor Man’s Disease?

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How is poverty and obesity associated with each other? Many researches show that a large segment of the U.S. population is affected by obesity. According to my findings, approximately 33 percent of the population is obese and another 33 percent are borderline overweight. One of the common myths about obesity that exists today is that most low income families are more likely to be overweight or suffer from obesity because it has been suggested that low income people are less likely to afford healthier whole or non-processed foods due to its higher costs. People that live in poverty are assumed to have diets consisting of more fats, carbohydrates and processed foods which lead to a higher BMI (Body Mass Index, an indicator for excess body fat). The gaveled choice of high calorie and unhealthy food due to “food insecurity” is not a valid reason as to why obesity tracks with poverty since wholesome food has become much more affordable over the years; instead, it is the nature of the environmental influences and behavior that primarily impacts obesity. A few years ago, I met a friend named Jerimiah West that lived in poverty somewhere in the slums of Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Jerimiah and his siblings received food stamps from the government through a direct payment card to buy food. He is very close to being considered obese and the reason why is due to his sedentary life of playing video games about 14 hours a day, along with the type of food he consumes on a daily basis. His household, lifestyle, and neighborhood would be a perfect example as to why poverty and obesity coexists together flawlessly. First, how is poverty linked with obesity? Is it true that individuals or families that live in impoverished regions of the United States have limited access to fresh and healthy food which causes food insecurity? No, this is not the primary case in the United States.

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