The controversies of chapters four, five, and six considered the nutritional costs and benefits of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins and their plausible roles in our increasingly obese society. There is no doubt that the increased availability of food in general and the prevalence of processed foods in our diets have led to the increasing amount of overweight and obese individuals in our nation. However, there may be another factor that is greatly contributing to this epidemic; money.
Multiple studies have begun to demonstrate that lower income populations are at higher risk for being overweight or obese. One study by Weedn, Ang, Zeman, and Darden (2012) found that low income children in Oklahoma suffer from obesity at a higher rate than other children and that obesity appears to steadily increase with age. Granderson, a CNN Contributor, also recognizes that there is a link between poverty and health. He writes that Mississippi, our nation's poorest state, is also the fattest and 8 out of our 10 poorest states have among the top ten lowest life expectancy's as well.
Drewnowski and Specter (2004) recognize that, “there is no question that the rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes in the United States follow a socioeconomic gradient, such that the burden of disease falls disproportionately on people with limited resources, racial-ethnic minorities, and the poor” (6). These trends can be explained through the concepts of energy density and food costs. Energy density is related to water content and energy-dense foods are described as dry and often containing high levels of sugar, fat, or starch. Common examples include potato chips, chocolate, and donuts. Fruits and vegetables, foods with high water contents, are considered much less energy dense. However, in contrast, nutrient density is defined as "a measure of nutrients provided per calorie of food" (Sizer & Whitney, 2012 p.20). Nutrient dense foods include fruits and vegetables because they provide a high amount of nutrients for a low amount of calories.
Energy-dense, processed foods are often much cheaper than fresh produce. In our economy, longer shelf life, a trait of many processed foods, is valued and results in lower prices which allows low income families to meet their energy needs with less money. However, a diet of energy-dense foods adds excessive sugars, fats, refined grains, and salt into their diets, all factors that generally contribute to obesity. Moreover, Granderson (2012) also writes that, “ a study that found $1 could buy 1,200 calories of potato chips but just 250 calories of vegetables and 170 calories of fresh fruit.” For many low income households, fruits and vegetables may be considered luxuries that are less affordable than other readily available energy dense foods.
Despite studies that have determined that it does not have to be more expensive to buy a healthier diet, the growing trend of obesity and related health issues in low income families continues to be a real problem in the United States. Deficient education, as well as money, contributes to the repeated choice of buying energy dense processed foods over healthier alternatives such as fresh produce and lean meats. Increased funding for proper nutrition education could ultimately help to reduce health care costs as obesity levels and other health issues would hopefully become less common. By investing in the education of our nation's at risk families, we would both reduce national health care costs and improve the quality of life of our fellow Americans.
Sizer, F.S. and Whitney, E. (2012). Nutrition: Concepts and Controversies. United States: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.
Weedn, A. E., Ang, S. C., Zeman, C. L., & Darden, P. M. (2012). Obesity Prevalence in Low- Income Preschool Children in Oklahoma. Clinical Pediatrics,51(10), 917-922. doi:10.1177/0009922812441861
Drewnowski, A, & Specter, S.E. (2004). Poverty and Obesity: the role of energy density and every costs. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 79. Retrieved from http://www.childrenshealthwatch.org/upload/resource/drenowski_povertyobesity_2004.p df
Thank you for reminding us of the sociocultural dimension of our nation's increasing struggle with weight. In a later controversy, you will read some similar perspectives with regard to men and women that suffer from anorexia nervosa. Many of my college-aged students in health and physical activities lamented over the affordability of fresh produce when compared with cheap convenience products or fast foods. I think that the couple from the movie Food Stamped provide a great example of how difficult it can be, even when you are very knowledgeable and resourceful, to sustain a healthy diet when you are constrained by an almost impossibly tight budget.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed your article and thought it was very interesting. I have heard many times that poor people and obesity are very closely related. So you saying the the poorest state is the fattest and that 8 out 0f the 10 poorest states have the lowest life expectancy seems to be pretty good evidence of obesity and income being related. I wonder where Illinois falls on the income list, we seem to be pretty obese? Also I find it interesting that the name "energy dense" is given to such bad foods like potato chips, processed foods, and donuts. To me if i hear energy dense I think it sounds like it would be good for me. I'm glad a healthy diet doesn't have to be expensive and I think this information just needs to be more advertised and taught so people know they don't just have to eat fast food just because they have a low income.
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