...The Relationship between Obesity and Poverty Obesity in the United States and similar societies is a socioeconomic problem. Obesity is defined as an abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that presents a risk to one’s health. The energy intake coming from food is stored as fat since the body does not use it. This ultimately impacts one’s physical health that many degenerative diseases are directly and indirectly linked to obesity. Throughout the history of obesity, its reputation varies from appreciation and the opposite among cultures over time. For instance, Ancient Egyptians are said to consider obesity as a disease, having been drawn in a wall of depicted illnesses. The Aztecs believed that obesity was supernatural, an affliction of the gods. Hippocrates, the father of medicine, was aware of sudden deaths being more common among obese men than lean ones as stated in his writings. In certain cultures and areas where food is scarce and poverty is prevalent, obesity is viewed as a symbol of wealth and social status. Throughout the history of obesity, the public’s view and status of obesity started to considerably change in the 1900’s. During this time the government started to become more involved by initiating campaigns against the problem and publishing ideal weights for various heights. In 1996, the Body Mass Index (BMI) was published, which was a statistical calculation and index to determine if a person is obese or not. In the 21st century, obesity is considered an epidemic...
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...Health Term Paper: Childhood Obesity in Low Socioeconomic Status Communities Jordan Landers Florida State University Abstract Obesity is at an all time high in the Unites States, affecting 35% of adults and 17% of children. Childhood obesity can be very detrimental causing emotional, physical, and social strain on the lives of adolescents. Those that are affected the most are citizens that live in low socioeconomic status communities due to lack of education and lack of resources. There are shortages of grocery stores and markets that offer fresh fruits and vegetables thus communities rely on fast food restaurants and convenient stores for food. Furthermore lack of fresh food coupled with physical inactivity is the main reason for the rise of childhood obesity and obesity in general in the past 30 years. Creating safe places for children to play as well as providing food and resources is the only way to eliminate the ongoing obesity epidemic. Growing up there has always been a certain degree of importance placed on the diet and living a healthy lifestyle to live a long and successful life. As of late there has been a boom in fitness sales, gym memberships, and importance on diet and quality food consumption, yet in the past 30 years the United States has seen a drastic increase in the amount of obese individuals. With social media and so many other health initiatives taking place across the country, why is there still a rise in obesity levels amongst adolescents and...
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...“deserts” can usually be found in the southern parts of the U.S. where poverty is more of an issue. For the past few decades, the consumption of unhealthy meals has increased. Social media plays a huge part in this recent spike of bad diets; Trends are set using social media, which influences many day to day decisions made by today’s youth. Education can also be considered a reason for such poor dieting. Children in the inner city are not taught about healthy dieting from elementary through high school. Instead, children are taught how to say ‘a’ for ‘apple’, but not that apples are a healthy alternative compared to McDonald’s French fries. As time progresses, these same children grow older and carry their bad eating habits along with them and completely disregard healthy eating. The fact that food deserts are practically abundant in their neighborhoods does not make this any better. In Chicago alone, minorities make up the majority of low-income neighborhoods, and in these neighborhoods, grocery stores are miles away from homes where fast food restaurants are thriving. The city is purposely constructed this way as a scheme to keep the health of minorities down, especially African Americans. This way, the minorities become dependent upon the system. African Americans who are faced with poverty are not able to afford constant medical bills as well as treatment, or they have no transportation. When poverty strikes it is very hard to progress, making it easier for us to be killed...
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...The hypothesis will often predict how one form of human behavior influences another. 3 hypothesis How do poor people affects our economy? If everyone has the same financial status, that means everyone will also have more or less the same propensity to consume which means the market will be structured accordingly. Believe it or not, but a lot of products will actually disappear, many industries will close down, and those people will be out of work - that will cause a drop in their income and cause inequality. People will refuse to do certain jobs- jobs they do not like, find boring, or consider below dignity. If those services are in demand by the society (street sweeping, grave digging for example) and there are too few people doing the job, then wages will soar. People will end up paying more for these services. High wages mean large labour costs to the entrepreneur. Except industries which are purely technologically driven, other industries will face a crunch of entrepreneurs as people will figure out that working as an employee has larger returns. But then, more employees will mean reduction in wages, and entrepreneurship will get a boost. The market will adjust till an equilibrium is reached. At this equilibrium, there will be employees as well as entrepreneurs, and normally, both do not belong to the same financial class. On the other hand, poor people also affect the economy by requiring subsidies, thus causing governments to spend and sometimes spend so much...
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...Health Campaign Part II Obesity in the United States is at an all-time high. According to a study from 2009-2010, 35.7% of the population is obese (Ogdan, Carroll, & Kit, 2012). Obesity has been associated with a variety of diseases and has a high mortality and morbidly rate among every population in the world. One of the Healthy People 2020 initiatives is to reduce the number of obese Americans. The Surgeon General estimates that 300,000 deaths a year in the United States alone, can be linked to obesity ("Overweight and Obesity: Health Consequences", 2013). Often seen as a social issue, obesity is very much a medical condition and community members should consult their physician before beginning any weight loss or exercise program. There are several diseases and illnesses that can be connected to obesity. These include, but are not limited to: heart disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory problems, arthritis, and birth defects among children born to women who are obese. Heart disease is the number one leading cause of death, responsible for one of every three deaths per year, nationwide (Swartz, 2013). In order to help communities achieve the Healthy People 2020 goals, there are multiple local, state and federal agencies offering free or relatively affordable programs. As a community, we must assist our citizens achieve a healthy weight and activity level. Obesity is a national epidemic. Several studies have noted a connection between obesity and social and economic status...
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...Obesity in America June 6, 2014 ENG/215 Paul Korzeniowski Obesity of the main causes of malnutrition in children and adults in America is mainly because caused of cheap foods that are low nutrition unhealthy and that are usually full of calories and fat. Obesity is eventually what will be the outcome. Poverty is the main factor of obesity. Factually speaking, Obesity and poverty without a doubt are interconnected. If Americans can actively become involved in their health and diet obesity could be eliminated. According to a recent poll, it has been stated American adults and American children are either obese or overweight adults raking in two-thirds while children are more than one-tenth on this spectrum. Hunger and obesity are about what one-tenth of American families suffer from, this happens when there is no access to safe foods that are nutritionally satisfactory. Statistics states children from low income families are half way as their affluent counterparts to become obese. When it comes to obesity low income families are in very unfavorable conditions when it comes to obesity. Unfortunately, the average American family does not have the financial capabilities to prepare healthy meals, find suitable housing, or access to appropriate medical care, and other everyday necessities. Low income family tend to buy less expense food which is not the healthiest choice vs. spending money on more healthy food because they just can't afford it. In doing so, families choose...
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...HCS/465- Health Care Reseach Studies to prove childhood obesity is a disease are conducted often. The studies that are conducted are to help prevent and cure childhood obesity. There are several ways each study is conducted. Throughout this paper one will learn of at least one way a study was conducted, and the results of that particular study. One will learn of the information that was collected as well as the procedure to keep the results and information private. The study that one will learn about throughout this paper on childhood obesity will give one some basic information that was used to show what areas are affected by childhood obesity and will also show one that childhood obesity not only starts at home but carries over into the school life of a child. The data collected in the study of childhood obesity was collected by the use of the telephone; this method is called survey research. This type of research was appropriate for the study because it reached more subjects for the research, and the questions asked in the survey were specific. Since there are many people who believe that childhood obesity is not a real or serious problem, the survey did not require millions of dollars to conduct making the survey important at the same time reducing the amount of funds required to conduct this survey. Also, this survey and research done on childhood obesity did not require children to be seen by a physician or to be studied like guinea pigs and being poked...
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...Immediate and long-term consequences of poverty on children The Immediate and long-term consequences that poverty has on a child are: Developmental difficulties that include cognitive delays, physical health problems, and lack of social skills; having high-risk behavior such as teen pregnancy, drug abuse and involvement in criminal activities; and problems associated with studying that include unwillingness to attend school, repetition of class/grade and poor academic achievement. These consequences have a direct impact on how a child will turn-out in future as an adult. How might consequence of poverty affect a child’s future functioning as an adult 1) Developmental problems- Parent who lives in poverty have difficulty in providing good...
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...Deason Poverty is a Direct Link to Obesity ITT It is not a secret that food has become significantly more expensive over the past years. Take a walk down an aisle in any grocery store and one would take notice that purchasing all of the five major food groups could potentially leave the consumer broke by the time they check-out. While the price on meats, fruits, and vegetables increases, the amount of cheap, prepackaged meals on the shelves continues to grow. Although, processed foods have been in grocery stores for quite some time, they have now almost taken over the super markets. While affordable and convenient, these prepackaged, processed foods can lead to many heathy problems, including obesity. With prices on food at the grocery store driving consumers away, the fast food industry has been stepped up in a big way. Along with families on-the-go, many families living poverty have turned the convenience of inexpensive, fast food. Known as the “dollar menu,” almost every fast food restaurant in the United States has this option on their menu. Not only is the “dollar menu” popular, but “value meals” are a favorite for consumers, as well. Fast food restaurants, such as McDonalds and Burger King, are not the only problem, though. Pizza establishments, for example CiCi’s and Pizza Hut, offer all you can eat buffets for considerably low prices. With the “dollar menu” and all you can eat buffets, the fast food industry markets their low prices geared towards poverty stricken...
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...When we hear the words overweight or obesity we tend to relate these words with adults. A reason to this could be, because obesity affects our body’s function. Many health problems arise in the forms of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and lack of range of motion. The majority of times, we see these health complications in older adults. Now, the health problems experienced by adults due to obesity are now being experienced among children. When a child is overweight or obese during childhood, the percentages of developing heart disease when adulthood is reached are higher, the same happens with metabolic disorders like type II diabetes, if they are not experience during childhood the person is most likely to develop it during adulthood...
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...Is the Food Stamp Program a Substantial Contribution to Childhood Obesity? Is the Food Stamp Program a Substantial Contribution to Childhood Obesity? Introduction Is the rising rate of childhood obesity within the United States affected by the food stamp program? This is the question that formulated the basis of my research. Looking at the rising statistics of obesity rates within America’s youth and researching why the weight of the United States community is significantly passing those of its surrounding countries. In researching this topic I hope to determine if the food stamp program is in any way responsible for this increasing health issue. As the years progress the health of today’s youth is rapidly decreasing. Although the lacks of exercise and poor food influences serve as a high influence on this issue, researching this topic has shown that the food stamp program has helped contribute to the issue at hand. Presenting Argument and Supportive Research To be classified as an overweight child, the body mass index is in the 85th percentile and the ratio of weight to height is unhealthy (Baun, 2011 p. 623). This number has increased drastically among America’s youth over the past decade. As obesity increases among youth, there is a decrease in physical activity as well as healthy eating habits. Healthy eating choices are the focus of my research, as I concentrate on the eating habits of children participating in America’s Food stamp Program. The heaviest children...
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...Food Poverty in America What is causing America’s obesity epidemic? Why is it so difficult for the majority of people in the U.S.A to eat healthy diets? Compare America to almost any other country and it is painfully clear that we have an overabundance of food: Americans eat 815 billion calories of food each day and throw out 200,000 tons of it daily (“Consumption”). However, it is commonly thought that people should have the self-control and knowledge necessary to winnow through the plenty and make good choices. Nutritional facts are readily available and no one could possibly think fast-food is good for them, could they? And yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention state that 34.9% of all Americans are clinically obese and that...
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...destination is just a walking distance. Doing this may cause us to be mostly sedentary and weak because of lack in physical activities. You see, the problem is we can be more prone to overweight because of our daily lifestyle and living in an urbanized society where in all the bad foods, hi-tech gadgets and vices are in. Based on the National Nutrition Survey last 2008, most of the overweight among adults that aged 20 years and above are in Metro, Manila with 32.2%. We all know that overweight and obesity are one of the serious problems that even other countries are experiencing. Take note, it is the fifth leading risk to global death. For us individuals this signifies that we need to change our daily lifestyle. That we need to become more aware of what we are eating, doing and taking. We need to become more sensitive especially when it comes to our health. As a BSHRM student I would like to find out: 1. What other related disease overweight can give? 2. How can we prevent ourselves to become overweight? 3. What are the possible reason why this problem occur? II. THE ISSUE: Based on this term paper, the problem or issue that needed to be tackled is the fast growth of...
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...Introduction Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that can affect individuals well into their adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to psychological conditions such as poor self-esteem and depression. In 2007, an estimated 22 million children under the age of 5 years old were overweight throughout the world, leading us to conclude that this is a global problem. Out of this figure, more than 75% of overweight and obese children live in low or middle income countries. These children will most likely continue to lead an unhealthy life. In addition, they are more likely to suffer from non-communicable ailments such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease at a very young age. At the national level, childhood obesity is increasingly prevalent. Data from the National Health and Nutritional Examination Surveys shows that the prevalence of obesity has increased for children in all age categoris. Below is a chart depicting the tested age groups along with the increase in obesity rates. Statistics also show that 17% of all children and adolescents are either overweight or obese. AGE | %INCREASE | 2-5 | 5-12% | 6-11 | 7-17% | 12-19 | 5-18%...
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...physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity’. (WHO, 1948) This conveys that although the function of the body is important, there are other contributing factors such as a healthy mind and meaningful relationships which also pertain to an individual being of good health and well-being. In the first instance, this essay will shed light on the diet, why it is important and the damaging effects it can have on the body. As an individual who has been labelled as clinically obese, I am interested in the nutrition that the body requires, the quality of the food being consumed and whether certain dietary elements have addictive traits. I will then go on discuss how the social factors, poverty and housing influence health before exploring how the psychological factors, stress and behaviour also impact on health. Diet Diet refers to a balanced selection of foods that we regularly consume for nutritional purposes, however the term has become associated to a restrictive dietary regime that an individual has adopted to lose weight, usually for health or aesthetic reasons. From a sociological perspective, diet may be the consumption of food for nutritional purposes, but it is also closely related to class, upbringing, identity and culture. Some sociologists have associated high energy and nutritionally poor diets to those with a lower social status. They believe that the quality of diet reflects the socioeconomic standing and state that...
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