Obesity is a health problem that refers to an individual having too many fats in the body. Obesity is much though confused with being overweight. It is essential to note that a person can be overweight from extra muscle. Today, obesity is at rise due to poor eating methods and evolution with the western way of lifestyle. Obesity affects all types of people every day; however, it is most prevalent in low-income families. However in this paper the main focus will be how obesity affects the low income families. Therefore, the paramount concern will be to discuss on the various aspects on obesity and how it has affected the low income families. The low-income community thus is much affected by obesity as the paper will discuss.
Obesity is affecting many people in the world. Its estimated that 500 million adults worldwide are obese. This has also posed a significant concern due to the rising figure of approximately 1.5 million adults are overweight or obese. Its argued that, if the recent trends continue, nearly 60% of the world`s population. This is because the majority of these people lack the knowledge pertaining the kind and quality of foods that are of health. Research has also shown that 3.3 billion people around the world could be overweight. Most of the low and middle class countries struggle with the dual burden of obesity and overweight. Although malnutrition persists, it is evident that overweight is a rapidly rising problem than underweight (Vanderkam 88).
The environment is vital determiner of obesity. This can be engaged with nutrition transition. This refers to the abolition of the traditional obesity-inducing shift to the western diets that recognize modernization and wealth. Most of the people today are following this lifestyle. Most of these western styles of eating result to obesity. Chunk foods and snacks are examples of foods. Extreme diets are not safe as they all lead to obesity. Researchers have found out that neighborhoods with decreased economic or low-income communities have a higher rate of obesity (Blackwell Publishing Ltd 76).
Low-income families are profoundly affected by obesity since they are food insecure. This is because they are subject to more sedimentary lifestyles and increased portion sizes. These individuals also face unique challenges in acclimatizing healthful behaviors. Research has indicated that obesity is rising in teen boys than teen girls in low-income communities. There are various factors that explain why low-income families are affected by obesity. This includes;
I. Limited resources and limited access to healthy, affordable foods
II. Fewer opportunities for physical activity and security
III. Cycles of food deficiency and overeating
IV. High levels of stress
V. Greater exposure of promotion of obesity products
VI. Low-income families rely on government food aid
1. Limited resources and limited access to healthy, affordable foods
Low income people normally lack full service grocery stores and farmers markets where populaces can purchase a selection of fruits, grains, and vegetables. Otherwise, most of the residents that have no reliable transport may be restricted to shopping in the neighboring stores or to substantial markets. One of the most inclusive reviews of the U.S. studies regarding neighboring differences in access of food came up with a report. It discovered that those neighborhoods with better access to hypermarkets and restricted access to expediency stores incline to have better diets. They also have minimized risk towards obesity. Thus, lack of accessibility has been a serious impact on the low-income members of society as they cannot meet the transport costs to the groceries and supermarkets.
Considerably when there is the availability of healthy foods, it is relatively certain that they are expensive. On the other hand, refined grains, fats, and added sugars are relatively cheap. These foods are moreover readily available to the low-income society. So they can get them without transport inconveniences. It is significant to take into consideration that a household with inadequate resources to purchase enough food always stretches their food budget. This is to make purchasing cheaper and energy-dense food that are of the quantity. That is they try to make best use of their calories per cash so that they can limit the factor of hunger. Less costly, energy foods naturally have minimum nutritional quality. Overeating of calories that foods have been associated to obesity is unhealthy. Therefore, the low-income families tend to go for the cheaper foods that contain sugars and fats. This is because they lack resources to buy quality foods. Its pertinent to note that when there is healthy food in the low-income community. This is especially fresh produce; it is usually in low quality. This diminishes the interest of the buyer’s ability opting for other foods (Vanderkam 201).
The low-income societies have higher ability of fast food hotels and restaurants. This can especially be observed near schools. The restaurants mainly serve foods that are of energy-dense and poor nutrition at a fairly low price. These foods are also readily available to consumers at a wide range. These foods are obtained at cheaper prices and thus are sugar added, a factor, which increases, the individual`s chances to obesity.
2. Fewer opportunities for physical activity and security
Physical activities serve as one of the critical factors that are to be looked upon regarding obesity reduction. However, low –income neighborhoods lack adequate physical activity resources compared to higher income areas. This includes; fewer parks, recreational facilities, green spaces, and bike paths. Inadequate facilities make it difficult to maintain a physically active routine. Study has shown inadequate access to such assets is a risk factor to obesity. When there is the availability of physical activity resources, they may not be attractive areas to play and keep physically fit. This is because poor areas usually have fewer futures like trees, resulting to trash and desolation.
Factors such as crime, traffic, and unsafe playground equipment are unusually frequent obstacles to physical activities especially in communities defined by their low incomes. Because of this and other effects on safety, people are likely to stay at home and take on sedentary activities that may include watching television and charting. Therefore, those living in insecure regions are at a greater risk of obesity. Children from low income families are less likely to take part in organized sports because of transport reasons. This is dependable with information from parents that expenditure and transport issues are obstacles to their children contribution in physical activities. Schools with students from low income families also spend a little time being active during PE lessons and are not even likely to have recess. Both of these are of much concern regarding the already inadequate chances to physical activities in their communities (Vermeulen 99).
The low-income communities are unable to use their neighborhood as a place of exercise because of other factors like discrimination. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 38.2 percent of whites over had no physical activity exercises. Considerably, the figure was high in Blacks, 48.9 percent. The most astonishing was for the Hispanics that was 53.4 percent. Poor people would like to sacrifice their time and exercise to make their lives better. So they would work overtime and be home late. This will boost the aspect of obesity risk to the low-income communities.
3. Cycles of food deficiency and overeating
Some people eat less or even skip certain meals. They do this to watch food financial plan and are likely may overeat when food finally becomes available resulting into obesity. This will also lead to chronic ups and downs in food consumption that can characterize by gaining of weight. Cycles of food limitation or food restriction and deprivation can also lead to unhealthy obsession with food that causes fat accumulation. This worsens with a combination of overeating and accumulation of fats. Inopportunely, overconsumption is common when foods are readily available and cheap. At the same time, these foods are energy-dense found in low-income societies (Good, 134).
The “feast of time” is a situation especially in low-income paternities (Vermeulen 65). This is a situation mostly seen in mothers. They often limit their food intake and sacrifice their nutrition in order to engulf their children from hunger. This aspect is highly incorporated in the low-income communities as the parents are to suffer health problems but protect their children. This kind of mechanism of coping puts the parents to a risk of obesity. In addition, study as indicated that paternal obesity more so motherly obesity is a strong determiner of infantile obesity. Because of this, maternal women are advised on various foods to take in order to avoid this condition.
4. High levels of stress
High levels of stress are likely to be faced by families with low-income. This is because of limitations in finance and emotional food security pressures. Low wage labor at the same time may cause stress especially if the work is of much labor. Limitation to accesses of health care for family members results to stress especially when the children are sick. Other aspects that can result to stress include long distance transportation, deprived housing, and inadequate security. Study as associated stress to obesity in children and adults. Stress can lead to an individual weight gain. This can result from metabolic and stress prompted hormonal changes and including unhealthful eating styles. Chronic stress may cause depression and anxiety. This are both associated with child and adult obesity. However, stress is commonly dominant among the adult than in the children (Vermeulen 104).
5. Greater exposure of promotion of obesity products
Low-income adults and youths are open to disproportionately more selling and promoting products of obesity that buoy up consumption of foods that are and dishearten physical activity. Those kinds of advertisements have exceptionally strong pressure on the favorites, diets, and acquisition for children who are the objects for marketing efforts. Food Stamp Program is an example of a food assistance safety net. This program offers benefits to eligible families and supports markets for agricultural products. The program costs at an average price of $31 billion. It provides low-income that increase the buying power to obtain food. However, most of the people are not exposed to the program especially the low-income community in the state. Lack of exposure has thus led to limited knowledge in handling obesity in this community (Vermeulen 68).
6. Low-income families rely on government food aid
It is crucial to note that, the low-income families mostly rely on government food assistance. This is because they cannot manage to feed their families especially at a certain period of the year. In addition, food stamps are a government program for food assistance with regard on how it is given. Once the foods are given in large portions to consumers, they may cause obesity since they will be consumed in large portions. Foods should be administered in a slow frequent manner to ensure good and healthful consumption. Plans like issuing of food through electronically loaded cards are not efficient. In fact, they are used by retailers once a month is not to be administered because they do not encourage healthy feeding. There is also the struggle to ration food regularly over a month. This is not efficient because by the end of the last week of the month the stock and money is out. This puts the low-income communities at the risk of obesity. Moreover, the cause of food stamps makes families shop differently. In the supermarkets, therefore, are food stamps that the low-income individuals cannot buy, thus lacking the essential health characteristics in the foods. Evidently, the food stamp only supports 25 percent of the family’s purchasing power. Government aid completely makes the low-income community get at risk of obesity since the structural flow of the food aid among the consumers is not focused. The foods are only delivered to the families without the advice of specialists on the rate and amount of consumption (Vermeulen 201).
Conclusion
In conclusion, obesity is a condition that results from one’s lifestyle. That is the environment and the food resources that are available to him. Low-income among the poor in the community has resulted to the rise in cases of obesity. This is because the low-income community cannot meet its food requirements. Because of this, there have been practices like the feast of time in parents. This is whereby a parent takes into account feeding of children with his or her food since the food resource is low. Obesity has also resulted from lack of exercises by individuals. This paper has extensively explored some of the causes of obesity in low income families. This includes the limited resources and limited access to healthy, affordable foods, fewer opportunities for physical activity and security, cycles of food deficiency and overeating, high levels of stress, greater exposure of promotion of obesity products, low-income families relying on government food aid.
As discussed above, the low-income community tends to work extra time to meet their requirements. They can also assume the course because of security measures within the area. However, it is important to note that obesity is a condition that can be controlled (Good, 154). This can be done through healthful eating habits, regular exercise, and good financial planning, reliable health services, creating awareness to the public.
Works cited
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Good, Keith. “American’s Obesity Epidemic Is Worst In Low-Income Communities.” Organic Consumers Association. Farm Policy, 4 Sept. 2006. Web. 13 Sept. 2012.
Vanderkam, Laura. "Food Stamp Programs Cause Obesity."Nutrition. David Haugen and Susan Musser. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2012. Opposing Viewpoints. Rpt. from "Do Food Stamps Feed Obesity?" USA Today 20 Apr. 2010. Gale Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 15 Sept. 2012.
Vermeulen, Freek. “The Price Of Obesity: How Your Salary Depends On Your Weight.” Forbes, 22 March 2011. Web. 15 Sept. 2012.
