The Connection Between Obesity And Poverty

The Connection Between Obesity And Poverty

Introduction

The World Health Organization (2000) describes obesity as a condition of abnormal or excess accumulation of adipose tissue (body fat) to an extent that an individual's health may be impaired. Because the precise measurement of adipose tissue requires invasive laboratory measures, in the population context, a simpler measure on which to base an obesity definition is required. Obesity has surfaced as one of the most disturbing nutritional issue facing the world at this time. The trend has augmented in a very precise period of time in U. S. In last quarter of the twentieth century it has appeared to have initiated. The epidemic in children then followed precisely afterwards. The most recent data (1999-2000) from national analysis in the United States advocates that approximately two thirds of the grown-up population is obese and approximately one third is overweight (Flegal, 2002). In children, existing approximation (1999-2000) put the pervasiveness of overweight at fifteen percent a threefold augment over the past 30 years (Flegal , 2002). The epidemic has been the most disturbing issue and has affected poor population more. People living below poverty line not only experience obesity as a disease itself but also experience obesity related disease. This affects quality of life of several families and influences poverty rate furthermore.

Obesity and poverty form a combination that is assuming an alarming state worldwide. It is difficult to explain the relationship between obesity and poverty, being culturally accustomed to associate poverty underweight and malnutrition, and these two elements are still present in very poor countries where per capita income does not exceed $ 1,000. The prevalence of obesity in the world is raising to an alarming proportions, especially in developing countries or in countries with medium income poverty. Unfortunately, the association of obesity and poverty is a phenomenon that affects even the high-income countries.

The document explores the connection between poverty and obesity. The content of the document is designed to give insights of the way poverty is linked to obesity and discuses the factors related with poverty influencing obesity.

Discussion

There is an intricate, devastating and self sustaining relationship between obesity and poverty. Both, poverty and obesity seems to cultivate from similar environmental, economical and social factors. The epidemic of obesity in U. S and western world has been effectively and excessively affecting the neediest. Long ago, obesity was the signature of wealth. People presumed that an individual might be obese as he or she has enough to eat. However, now that the paradigm has altered significantly obesity serves as trait of people belonging to low status. The status is generally determined certain variables that includes: occupation, education, social capital, consumption, social context, assets and wealth, and access to wherewithal, including access to physical activity. Perhaps the greatest determined connection between obesity and poverty is education and earnings. Usually the more the level of education the higher the income is. The higher the family income is, they better access will its members have ...