In 2002 obesity among the poor climbed 147%, according to medicinenet.com. Those in the poverty level are the fastest growing group when it comes to obesity. Often the reasons they are obese are due to things largely out of their control. Obesity among the poor can be attributed to many things however the most common are lack of exercise, food choices and no access to health food stores or supermarkets.
Living in government assisted housing, commonly known as "projects" are typical housing for those who are poor. The projects play host to gangs, shootings, and other more serious crimes. Many children and families report this as the number one reason they do not get out an exercise, they are too scared to be outside at all. Projects often do not have playgrounds, sidewalks or lawns where families or children can play. If there is a playground near by often it is a central meeting place for gangs and gang activity, again making it a less than ideal hang out for children or individuals looking for a place to exercise.
Many who live in government assisted housing are also on food stamps or other food assistance programs. Trying to eat healthy on food stamps is near impossible. Often those who use foods stamps have many mouths to feed and they need to stretch the money as far as it will go. One way they can make it last is by buying cheep staples such as macaroni and cheese, Cup O'Noodle and other starches such as bread or pasta. A cheep and easy dinner might be Hamburger Helper which is extremely unhealthy but food stamp shoppers don't care, as long as it feeds their babies.
Poor families are not generally thinking about buying organic foods and other food substitutes such as Egg Beaters or tofu as they are too expensive and food stamps generally do not cover expensive items when there are other alternatives such as real eggs. Many times low income families don't even bother with a grocery list of items as there are no grocery stores anywhere near their homes and lugging $400.00 worth of groceries on a bus alone is not easy.
Large cities such as New York, Chicago or Atlanta often lack a supermarket or health food store in close proximity to inner city living. Many project tenets find groceries at Circle K's or Quickie Marts which generally stock cheep foods but they are not always healthy foods. Sciencedaily.com reports that one of the leading reasons of obesity among the poor is lack of grocery stores in their neighborhoods. There are no farmers markets offering organic produce or health food stores with tofu, these people get what they can at corner markets.
Being poor is no reason to let your health suffer. However when it comes to trying to better yourself or become more healthy, the odds are defiantly against you if you are in the low income bracket. It has become more important then ever to take care of yourself regardless of your income level. The rising costs of health care are not going down, and by being obese you are not part of the solution. - 31857
Living in government assisted housing, commonly known as "projects" are typical housing for those who are poor. The projects play host to gangs, shootings, and other more serious crimes. Many children and families report this as the number one reason they do not get out an exercise, they are too scared to be outside at all. Projects often do not have playgrounds, sidewalks or lawns where families or children can play. If there is a playground near by often it is a central meeting place for gangs and gang activity, again making it a less than ideal hang out for children or individuals looking for a place to exercise.
Many who live in government assisted housing are also on food stamps or other food assistance programs. Trying to eat healthy on food stamps is near impossible. Often those who use foods stamps have many mouths to feed and they need to stretch the money as far as it will go. One way they can make it last is by buying cheep staples such as macaroni and cheese, Cup O'Noodle and other starches such as bread or pasta. A cheep and easy dinner might be Hamburger Helper which is extremely unhealthy but food stamp shoppers don't care, as long as it feeds their babies.
Poor families are not generally thinking about buying organic foods and other food substitutes such as Egg Beaters or tofu as they are too expensive and food stamps generally do not cover expensive items when there are other alternatives such as real eggs. Many times low income families don't even bother with a grocery list of items as there are no grocery stores anywhere near their homes and lugging $400.00 worth of groceries on a bus alone is not easy.
Large cities such as New York, Chicago or Atlanta often lack a supermarket or health food store in close proximity to inner city living. Many project tenets find groceries at Circle K's or Quickie Marts which generally stock cheep foods but they are not always healthy foods. Sciencedaily.com reports that one of the leading reasons of obesity among the poor is lack of grocery stores in their neighborhoods. There are no farmers markets offering organic produce or health food stores with tofu, these people get what they can at corner markets.
Being poor is no reason to let your health suffer. However when it comes to trying to better yourself or become more healthy, the odds are defiantly against you if you are in the low income bracket. It has become more important then ever to take care of yourself regardless of your income level. The rising costs of health care are not going down, and by being obese you are not part of the solution. - 31857
