The Weight of the Nation

The Weight of the Nation
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The Weight of the Nation
In the past, obesity was common among the rich in America. However, currently, the trend has changed whereby research shows that a majority of low-income earners are more obese as compared to the high-income earners. American counties with poverty rates of over 35% have been seen to have obesity rates of more than 145% when compared to the rich counties. This is attributed to the reduced costs of junk foods and increased prices in healthy foods such as vegetables and fruits. Therefore, this paper explores the correlation between the level of income and obesity in Americans.
Research has proven that more low-income earners in America suffer from obesity when compared to the high-income earners (HBODocs, 2012). They are predisposed to weight-related diseases like hypertension and diabetes. For instance, in the lowest income county in New York, South Bronx, rates of obesity are evidently high. The area is predominantly filled with fast food joints where foods like chips and soda which are cheap and easily accessible to the residents are sold. These fast food outlets are highly advertised such that it’s hard for a person not to spot them while hungry and in the neighborhood (HBODocs, 2012). Also, the residents who have to work for long hours in order to cater for their needs, lack time to prepare a meal hence end up having no option but consuming junk foods which are affordable to them.
Moreover, studies have shown that the poor lack of quality foods and exercise which leads to them being obese (HBODocs, 2012).

In America, quality food is expensive. Soft drinks like soda are cheaper than water. Similarly, fresh foods and vegetables are considered to be foods for the rich since they are costly. For instance, in Philadelphia, where 40|% of the residents live in poverty, there are hardly any stores that sell fresh foods (HBODocs, 2012). Moreover, in South Bronx, the streets are also congested which hinders efforts of engaging in physical activities like jogging. These two factors contribute to the increasing levels of obesity in the poor.
In conclusion, it is evident that there exists a strong correlation between obesity and the level of income in Americans. For instance, the low-income earners live in neighborhoods that are dominated by junk food outlets which gives them no option but consume the unhealthy foods hence becoming obese. Also, since healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables are expensive considering their low income, and their neighborhoods are highly congested such that they lack space to do physical activities, they are therefore more predisposed to obesity. The trend needs to be reverted to reduce the number of obesity-related deaths by making healthy foods affordable and readily available to the low-income earners and also sensitizing then on the need to engage in physical activities.
Reference
HBODocs. (2012, May 14). Retrieved November 11, 2018, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MJnm5X9NN0