The Link Between Poverty and Obesity

FAT BROKE THE LINK BETWEEN POVERTY AND OBESITY IN THE US THE FACTS AT A GLANCE The Census Bureau In 2010, considers poverty an annual income of less than 15.1% $11,720 of Americans lived in poverty for an individual THAT'S 34.9% AND $23,492 46 of US adults were obese in 2011-2012 million for a family of four people IDENTIFYING THE LINK BETWEEN POVERTY AND OBESITY US counties with poverty rates higher than 35% have obesity rates 145% greater than those in wealthy counties Between 1986 and 2002, adults in the lowest income and education groups had consistantly higher BMI (body mass index) than adults in the highest income and education groups COUNTY'S OBESITY RATE MEAN BMI BY GROUP COUNTY'S WITH 2$ POVERTY RATE NO HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA ABOVE 35% LOWEST INCOME BRACKET 25 HIGHEST INCOME BRACKET %24 COLLEGE GRADUATION 20 COUNTY'S WITH POVERTY RATE 1986-1990 1991-1995 1996-2002 BELOW 35% WHY? FOOD DESERTS Poverty-dense areas often lack quality, fresh food. The inexpensive alternatives tend to be low in nutritional value A SEDENTARY LIFESTYLE and high in preservatives, fats, salt and refined sugar ...................... Sedentary people expend less energy and are more prone to obesity, chronic metabolic disease and cardiovascular problems 43% of households living below the poverty line are uncertain of having or unable to acquire sufficient food ...................................... POSSIBLE CONTRIBUTING FACTORS Food stamps provide a government allotment of approximately People are less able SSSS to afford a gym membership $1.50 Violent areas overlap with poor areas, preventing people from being active outside per meal, per person The food stamp market has quadrupled from $20-$80 BILLION Fewer parks and athletic facilities are available to those living in poor areas in the last 12 years THE ECONOMICS OF OBESITY Obesity-related chronic For those with diabetes, the disease accounts for health care costs amount to 70% $9 Billion of US health costs annually COSTING PLUS $190 $9,000 per new diabetes patient/year billion in annual medical costs Sources: HEALTHCARE-ADMINISTRATION-DEGREE.NET ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3198075/ ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1449404/table/t1/ washingtonpost.com/sf/national/2013/11/09/too-much-of-too-little/?tid-sm_fb theatlantic.com/business/archive/2014/01/where-does-obesity-come-from/283060/ pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2013/11/13/obesity-and-poverty-dont-always-go-together/ frac.org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/are-low-income-people-at-greater-risk-for-overweight-or-obesity/ slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2009/09/give_me_your_tired_your_poor_your_big_fat_asses_2.html NOWSOURCING