Hunger And Obesity Related Essay

Decent Essays
Are Hunger and Obesity Related? Many Americans are neglectful towards the amount of poverty that resides in the U.S and tend to turn their cheek when someone mentions it. Unfortunately, in America there is a stigma that follows obesity, which is that people who are obese have more than enough food when in reality, many of them are starving because they are intaking all the wrong foods. There has essentially been no divide between poverty and obesity because they are a result of each other. Children are at a greater risk for obesity and diabetes than ever before, which is not necessarily their fault. Although it is not just health issues that could affect children, but also their poor self image and mental state that can be affected. Positive self-image is such a crucial thing for young children to have, but with social media and the recent push for adolescents to be thin, it is causing drastic negative effects on overweight youths. Households that are food insecure only have access to unhealthy food due to the fact that it is more affordable, which is why the obesity rate had risen. That being said, childhood obesity can be prevented if a child has access to …show more content…
According to Feeding America’s “Child Hunger” article “84 percent of client households with children report purchasing the cheapest food available, even if they knew it wasn’t the healthiest option, in an effort to provide enough food for their household.” Childhood obesity is a Nationwide issue, but is seen to affect certain places such as the Bronx more than others. Sam Dolnick said “A 2008 study by the city government showed that 9 of the Bronx’s 12 community districts had too few, supermarkets, forcing huge swaths of the borough to rely largely on unhealthy, but cheap, food” (220). This is an epidemic that if not addressed and minimized will continue to affect the youth in America and only get

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    How is the wealth gap affecting childhood obesity rates in America? As of the early seventies America started to see a widening in the gap between the middle class and the elite. With income inequality on the rise it’s only natural for those with less means to cut down and budget their income wisely. Families then resort to quick and inexpensive food choices, which evidently happen to be the same foods that will later on cause health complications to them and their children. The effects of lower income is becoming all too apparent as you see childhood obesity on the rise.…

    • 546 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Recently there has been massive social unrest around the country in response to the many social justice issues Americans are facing daily. Even as progressive laws are passed to further basic rights of oppressed groups, social action has been continuing in an effort to spread awareness of the abysmal state of this country in regard to institutionalized racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, etc. Yet, for all the impressive effort made by so many, food-politics is often an oversight made by even those who hope to move America into a more inclusive and socially sustainable condition. But when we talk about other social issues, especially racism and classism, it is irresponsible to leave food out of the discussion. Specifically, food deserts continue…

    • 1489 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Cause of Obesity in Lower Income Areas Obesity in the United States is an epidemic that affects many but, looking at the areas it affects the most the lower income areas the most this is only because of parents in lower income areas not being able to find any healthy natural foods to feed their children also, parents work schedule and city life so some. Living in a lower income area the choices of healthy foods are extremely hard to find, this is due to the fact lower income areas are in cities and are food insecure, which means being without reliable access to a sufficient quantity of affordable nutritious foods. . The food research and action center (2011) says, "all segments of the population are affected, food insecure and low-income…

    • 1460 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    There is usually confusion and debatable information when it comes to obesity and food insecurity, Hunger and obesity can often occur within the same neighborhoods and even the same families. More than one in five kids lives in a food-insecure households, meaning their family's income doesn't allow for consistent access to food to meet the needs for the whole family. Poverty and unemployment are key drivers that have led to food insecurity around the world, and as a result of limited income, individuals often choose cheaper, less healthy, calorie-dense foods such as processed and/or fast foods. Which as a result a child can look overweight however lack the healthy, nutrient-rich food their bodies need to flourish and grow. More than 4.2 million Australians are food insecure, including more than 1 million…

    • 1040 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    My major is nutrition and I decided to focus on school lunches because I think it has been an issue of whether they are good for children or not. The debate if whether school lunches give children all the nutrient needs is everywhere, from the parents to the presidents and the first lady of the United States. This issue applies to all individuals because we need to care about children since they are the future of this world. Children are a very important part and the future of our society’s work force and economy. Children are the ones who are very vital for deciding how the world is going to be after some years.…

    • 1544 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Great Essays

    Obesity In America Essay

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages

    Obesity in America has led to many problems such as the healthcare system becoming in debt, and many bills have been left unpaid. Medical research suggests that people should eat less, but some people are not willing to. While living in America, portion sizes keep getting bigger, rather than smaller, such as with all-you-can-eat buffets. Many common people want to eat better, but with a lack of motivation, it is usually easier to fall into the trap of eating the normal portions. Research now shows that with the use of the “happy meal”, customers actually choose the smaller meal even with the use of inexpensive items as incentives, such as in the experiments with headphones, gift cards or flight points, and small amounts of prize money.…

    • 1254 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Great Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Obesity In America Essay

    • 1238 Words
    • 5 Pages

    “Our society keeps us focused on others and outside events influencing us. However, the truth is that we are independent and need nothing outside ourselves to survive.”, says American author and internet news caster, Meria Heller, on health and spiritual well being in a modern, digital age. In the most recent of times, a new problem has been brought to the forefront of many lawmakers and average citizens: the impact of obesity on daily life and the role the government should play in helping to stop and prevent obesity. While some people feel it is the government’s job to micromanage the details of its citizen’s lifestyles, others take a more wholesome view that says it is the government’s job to provide easily accessible, raw, healthy foods…

    • 1238 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Obesity In America Essay

    • 1746 Words
    • 7 Pages

    There’s a strange epidemic going around now in time that has never occurred before. The United States is known to be admired by other countries for different aspects. However, one negative perspective on America is that there is a widespread obesity epidemic occurring. Not only are heavier people becoming unhealthy but skinnier people are too. In the 70’s, most cases when people were heavier was because of genetics.…

    • 1746 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Obesity In America Essay

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages

    These parents might have little free time in between their busy lives trying to work and care for their children, that fast food is more convenient for their lives and families. With the lack of physical activity and eating unhealthy, children in poor families are more likely to become obese (Lee). “Due to inflexible work schedules, lack of transportation, or unmet needs for child care, poor parents, especially single mothers, may find it hard to support extra activities for their children” (Lee).These kids are only able to stay home and be fed unhealthy food by their…

    • 724 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Obesity is caused by many factors, but one of the main ones that causes many americans to slide into obesity is the lack of availability for healthy, nutritious meals. This can be caused by the inability to afford fresh fruits and vegetables and the lack of transportation to locations where these things are available. Where healthier options may not be available, fast food restaurants and sugary snacks provide a solstice. They can fill the empty stomachs, but they contain ridiculous amounts of added sugar, and little to no nutrition. Many impoverished families rely on food stamps to get their food every week, but if these stamps are used for fresh foods, they don’t go very far.…

    • 1760 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Obesity In America Essay

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages

    This paper addresses the causes, risk factors, and preventative measures associated with obesity in the United States among children to adulthood. The different onsets of obesity and the reasons why citizens of the United States of America suffer from this epidemic are laid out. Preventative measures ranging from natural physical activity, nutrition, pharmaceutical, to surgical methods are expressed. The government’s role and responsibility in the lingering and increases of this epidemic are also addressed. A major public health problem in the U.S. is obesity.…

    • 614 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Child Obesity In America

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In today’s society, there are a variety of illnesses and diseases that Americans deal with on a daily basis. One of these diseases that have a leading percentage rate in the United States is obesity. According to obesity.org, “Obesity is one of the most pervasive, chronic diseases in need of new strategies for medical treatment and prevention.” Obesity has taken a toll on the younger generation, the future of America: children and adolescents. From the easy access to fast food restaurants throughout the country to our former First Lady, Michelle Obama, who brought light to her solution to child’s obesity with her nationwide campaign, Let’s Move!, there has been exposure to the topic yet there is still room for improvement.…

    • 722 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Sadly, these problems have not been attended to and it is affecting those young in age, even toddlers, “Almost a quarter of children ages 2–5 considered obese or overweight”(Should the U.S. government be involved in the fight against childhood obesity?). When obesity is affecting children this young, it is only logical to assume it is not the child’s fault, they simply do not know better. The parent or caretaker should have the knowledge and intelligence to feed their child with the most nutritious and well-balanced meals because you are what you eat! It is not good that the amount of children obese is increasing, especially because it leads to health…

    • 1329 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    In 2016, children between ten and seventeen had an obesity percentage of 31.3 percent, with 13.9 percent among high school students. Obesity is spreading in America’s children quickly, but this problem can be delayed. Technology, eating healthy, and fighting the poverty level are a few of the problems that cause childhood obesity. Poverty and unemployment is a very critical reason why childhood obesity in America is rising fast. People living in poverty and unemployed people cannot afford healthy foods, so they are forced to buy cheaper unhealthy products, but not much can be done about this.…

    • 282 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays
  • Superior Essays

    Poverty impact on Obesity Over the years, the U.S. has seen a tremendous increase in the obesity rates in both children and adults. Many have stopped to question what is causing this increase. Researchers have found that poverty links to obesity, leading to a huge impact in the obesity epidemic. Because poor people can not afford a healthy lifestyle, obesity rates are increasing, and it’s affecting humans health.…

    • 1490 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Superior Essays