Obesity And Poverty

In the United States one out of every third person is obese (“One Out,” 2013). According to the Census Bureau, one out of seven people in America live in poverty (“Poverty in the,” 2013). The question these numbers pose is whether or not there is a direct correlation between obesity and poverty. Existing studies suggest a direct relationship between poverty and obesity. If there is a causal relationship between these two variables, what does this mean for America in terms of its over-reliance on processed food? What consequences may Americans expect to see if such a relationship were ignored over the longer term? Americans living in poverty are far more likely to experience obesity due to the higher costs associated with nutritious versus non-nutritious
An example of such food products include processed flour goods and high-sugar cereals known as high-glycemic foods. The problem with this, and it is touched upon in Michael Pollan’s The Omnivore’s Dilemma, is that the cost of healthy eating in this country is high that people of lower socioeconomic statuses simply cannot afford to eat food high in nutritional value. While this point was previously contended by some, emerging research in the form of studies is proving that the cost of healthy food is greater (Spyros, 2011). The implications of this, as the number of people living below the poverty threshold continues to rise, is that obesity and related chronic illnesses are going to cost this country’s healthcare system a substantial amount of
Addressing this problem requires more than motivating people to become physically active and increasing nutritional education in the schools. As discussed previously, the cost of non-nutritional foods is a major contributor to the problem as those experiencing poverty are unable to afford to purchase healthier foods consistently. This is something that requires intervention at a much higher level in terms of requiring food companies to provide healthier alternatives to those who are severely economically restricted. The motivation for doing this should come from a desire to decrease healthcare costs incurred by the government as a result of chronic health problems directly related to obesity among the