Obesity is a problem that is plaguing our country, but did you know that the poor are the most vulnerable to this health risk?
You might think poor people would be thin, given that they are scraping by on what little sustenance they can afford.
The truth it’s not how much (or little) they are eating, but what they are eating. Some critics point to the mass availability of highly processed packaged foods and cheap meat made possible by government subsidy programs.
When hunger strikes and money is tight, many families tend to purchase the foods that offer the greatest caloric content for the price. More “bang for your buck,” so to speak. Unfortunately, these products usually aren't fruits and vegetables.
The fact that there is a correlation between poverty and obesity is not new news. It has been documented in numerous studies, and can be observed first-hand in many low-income communities across the country. So, the question is really this: how do we fix it?
Here are a few actions commonly proposed by policymakers:
• Stop the grain crop subsidy program that makes unhealthy processed food and cheap meat the most widely-available products in low-income communities.
• Call for an investment in school nutrition program to educate children about the importance of healthy eating.
• Begin to restrict the food WIC, SNAP and other recipients of federal food aid are allowed to purchase with their government benefits.
What do you think? Of course these suggestions would not totally eliminate the poverty/obesity link, but they could help to make healthy food more widely available, and consumed, in low-income communities.
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