Sydnie: Week 11

Why Low Income and Food Insecure People are Vulnerable to Obesity

Childhood obesity greatly effects the lives of children who come from low income families. In a national study, “children from lower income households, had more than two times higher odds of being obese than any children from higher income households.” Healthy food is often way more expensive than the foods of high fat and energy. Low income families are limited to a food budget and therefore, it is easier to purchase cheap foods that are filling. Also, it is quite possible for low income families to have an unsteady form of transportation. There is over 23 million Americans who do not have a grocery store within a mile of their homes. Instead, these neighborhoods are packed with fast food restaurants and convenient stores; increasing the chances for a person to be obese.