The US is one of the many wealthiest countries in the world and according to research it has the highest obesity rates. The research shows that one-third of US population is obese, and a third is overweight. Other researchers show that high-income countries have greater rates of obesity compared to middle and low-income countries (Averett and Korenman 15).
Over the years, obesity has increased even among children. Research on obesity between adults and children show that approximately 36% of adults and 17% of children in the US are obese. Statistics of the children reveal that a quarter of 2-5 year olds and one-third of the school going children are either overweight or obese. 30% of that result is children from low-income families (Averett and Korenman, 24). The overweight rate is higher in African American and Hispanic children. Results also show that the southern region of the US is more prominent on obese children (Bhattacharya and Bundorf, 33). It is clearly evident that the obesity condition adversely affects the economic condition of the county through the different income levels.
The statistics for adults indicate that two-thirds of US adults are either overweight or obese. The rate of obesity is higher in African-American and Hispanic women. The rate of obesity also tends to increase with an adult’s age. Obesity in adults is prominent in the South and Mid-West region of the US. The obesity rate present among adults has increased to more than 10% over the past decade (Bhattacharya and Bundorf, 33). The income levels of the plays a major role in the obese population. People with low income levels are prone to obesity due to the changes of lifestyle as compared to people of middle or high income level.
The myths that go around regarding obesity is that low-earning families tend to be more obese that high-earning households. Statistical research shows that 15.1% of America’s population lives in poverty (Cawley and Grossman 20). The economic downtown increased the poverty rate in the country. Research does on specific counties indicate that the counties with poverty rates are greater than 35% have obesity rates 145% higher compared to wealthy counties. It is because those areas have poor access to fresh foods. It proves the myth to be true (Averett and Korenman, 25).
Factors that lead to Obesity and it income correlation
According to Bhattacharya and Bundorf, Obesity is the body mass index equal to or greater than 30.The health sector has determined that obesity can cause life-threatening situations such heart failure, diabetes, cancer and even death (Bhattacharya and Bundorf 21). It is a complex condition with biological, economic, environmental and behavioral influences. Some of the factors that lead to obesity are such as:
Individual behavior can result in the intake of calories. Some reactions are such as self-esteem, stress or depression. The actions can lead to stress eating where one regularly eats to get rid of emotional distress. The rate of obesity tends to increase in the society where people face behavioral challenges.
Environmental factors can contribute to obesity; for example, consider a factor of an unsafe environment where most people tend to stay indoors (Cawley, Grabka and Lillard 97). The obesity rate will increase as there is no room for physical activities and there is constant exposure to food which will lead to greater snacking habits. However, this factor cannot be controlled and depending on the state of the environment it can either foster obesity of hinder it.
Medical conditions: The medical conditions can result in someone being obese for example a condition such as polycystic ovary syndrome. Also, some prescription drugs also have the effect of causing obesity such as antidepressants or steroids. Some find it difficult to lose weight after treatment thus remaining obese (Cawley, Grabka and Lillard 97).
Genetic: Obesity can sometimes run in the family and can go down through generations. It is not a disease as one can be healthy but overweight.
Health issues: It can lead to obesity as for one to maintain current weight, one requires being active and keeping on doing so. The unhealthy habits that can obesity are such as lack of sleep, lack of exercises, inappropriate dieting or chemical exposure. The health issues cause an imbalance in the distribution of energy in the body (Cawley, Grabka and Lillard 99).
The factors that influence the relationship between obesity and income are such as gender, race-ethnicity or age. The relationship between the two seems to weaken with time. In adults, the risk of obesity is said to be greater in women and children of low-income than men. When looking at the factors, the research of NHANES shows that the level of obesity in children between the ages of 6 to 9 is lower in low-income White and Mexican families compared to low-income African American families (Averett and Korenman, 35).
The correlation between obesity and income
The presence of obesity being greater in developed countries than the less developed country does not affect the relationship between obesity and income. The relationship is positive as research has shown that the obesity rate increases with the growth in the economies per capita income (Bhattacharya and Bundorf 38).
In less developed income, those with higher socioeconomic status are more likely to be obese; this is false as research proves otherwise in the economy of the US where women in the high social-economic group are less obese. It is because most women have access to equipment to keep fit, have a constant medical checkup and have access to fresh food (Cawley and Grossman 22). Also, most high socioeconomic families tend to have a safe surrounding where activities are prominent.
Research, as shown that obesity among men has a prevalence of ≥ 30 where the household income is constant and the prevalence of men being overweight, is 25≤ obesity < 30 where the household income increases. The correlation here is positive (Averett and Korenman, 56).
For women, there exists a negative correlation as prevalence is 36% in households that receive low income and 16% prevalence of families that receive a larger household income. There is no relationship trend between obesity in children and income as most children are catered for by their parents and are not among the working class in the economy (Cawley and Grossman 26).
The correlations are just estimates as the factors that cause obesity influence the accuracy of the correlation results. Also, the income can also be affected by obesity as research done shows that increase in weight in women lowers wages affecting the household income. The same apply for men. (Cawley and Grossman 24)
The structure of obesity and income in present day
Most of the US workforce that receive higher household income are said to be obese, but over time, the relationship has changed where the workforce that earns higher household income has a lower obesity rate due to continuous access to resources such as healthy eating practices and exercise. The implication is that economic development improves health (Cawley and Grossman 30).
It is because the workforce that receives higher income undertakes exercise without even recognition reducing obesity. Exercising is in the form of reading a book, attending events or even shopping tends to decrease the rate of obesity and maintain a healthy workforce (Cawley and Grossman 30). The reduction of the obesity rate can also be due to the information regarding obesity has changed over time where today more people are accessible to the information and are aware of its consequences thus striving to reduce obesity.
The healthy workforce tends to positive affect the income of the country as the effort of productivity in businesses increases thus increasing profit and enhancing economic growth. It will overall increase the income of the country (Cawley and Grossman 30).
Also, obesity will be reduced when growth is imminent as low-income receiving families also grow with the company increasing their benefits thus moving from a low-income family to high-income family. It will make resources accessible to them to reduce obesity.
However, the problem of obesity is not to be ignored as different individuals differently and the factors that cause obesity can cause a disparity between obesity and the social, economic group developing consequences such as short life span and poor health. It will affect the economy negatively as there will be poor production reducing income (Bhattacharya and Bundorf 43).
Conclusion
In conclusion, the results of the research done on the relationship between obesity and income are that there is actual prevalence between obesity and income when it comes to women. There exist a negative prevalence between obesity and income in men. The conclusion is that the rate of obesity can reduce with the development of a nation. The reduction of obesity will have positive results on the income of the US. The research has cleared indicated that the obesity among men has a prevalence of ≥ 30. On the other hand, the household income is constant and the prevalence of men being overweight is 25≤ obesity < 30. This is the case mostly where the household income increases. It is prudent to conclude that there is a correlation between the income levels and the obesity rates. People of different income levels have different rates of obesity. For instance, the research outlines that the people with low income level has the highest rate of obesity. This fact is attribute to the lifestyles that comes with the low income levels. The relationship is positive as research has shown that the obesity rate increases with the growth in the economies per capita income.
Work Cited
Averett, Susan, and Sanders Korenman. The Economic Reality of the Beauty Myth. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 1996. Print.
Bhattacharya, Jay, and M K. Bundorf. The Incidence of the Healthcare Costs of Obesity. Cambridge, MA: National Bureau of Economic Research, 2009. Print.
Cawley, John, and Michael Grossman. The Impact of Obesity on Wages.
Cawley, John, and Michael Grossman. The Economics of Obesity. Bingley: Journal of Human Resource, 2004. Print. Emerald Group Publishing Limited, 2006. Internet resource.
Cawley, John, Markus M. Grabka and Dean R. Lillard. A Comparison of the Relationship between Obesity and Earnings in the US and Germany. Kiel: ZBW, 2005. Internet resource.
