The Telescope

Issue Date: 5/11/09

Economic crisis affecting obesity?

By Casey Olaya

Media Credit: Joseph Bonnet

Obesity in Americans has been steadily increasing for the past few years. Poverty is fueling this epidemic.
According to Director Jeffrey P. Koplan of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "Obesity is an epidemic and it should be taken as seriously as any infectious disease epidemic."
Obesity accounts for more than 300,000 deaths each year, according to the CDC, with contributing factors going beyond the preconceived notion of personal motivation.
The cost of living a healthy lifestyle may be the culprit. With today's dwindling economy, it is no surprise that people are more likely to buy only what they can afford.
University of Washington professor Adam Drewnowski released a statement stating that foods such as french fries and soda, which are produced from subsidized crops, cost nearly five times less per calorie than unsubsidized foods, like broccoli and fruit juices.
If an American wanted to eat five dollars worth of vegetables they would only be consuming 100 calories, while that same amount of money spent on a hamburger would result in an unnoticed 500 calorie consumption.
If the cost of healthy food does not decrease, Denowski said that obesity will continue to be a problem for the working poor.
According to a recent survey done by the American Psychological Association eight out of 10 Americans say the economy is now a considerable factor of stress that can lead to unhealthy stress eating.
Dr. Elissa Epel of the University of San Francisco stated, "Being of low social status can put someone under chronic stress."
Other factors contributing to the excessive weight gain of Americans can be marked up as a cultural phenomenon, with specific ethnic groups strung in the middle of the debate.
According to the Population Reference Bureau in 2006 for every eight white Americans under the poverty line, there are 20 people in racial or ethnic minority groups.
The rate of poverty in these ethnic groups is comparatively high, and over 25 percent of Americans today are overweight.
A national study showed 37 percent of black women in America are obese, 33 percent of Mexican women and a mere 24 percent of white women.
In black women alone with 66 percent being overweight and 37 percent obese, only 30 percent are actually at or below the ideal body weight.
Although the obesity epidemic is alive and growing, it's not unstoppable: It can only grow if we buy into the "overweight market" of unhealthy foods.
With fast food restaurants showing little effort to provide more nutritious meals the only other feasible option would be food stamps, which can be hard to come by.
Barbara Berry, of the Produce for Better Health Foundation has created an organization which supports adding more fruits and vegetables to the federal food-assistance program Women, Infants, and Children. According to Berry the organization currently has very limited options.
Battling obesity seems nearly impossible for those in poverty.
Instead of pointing the finger at Americans for being overweight and obese, the government instead needs to step in and reform its programs so those who can't afford better options can have hope.

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