Obesity In America Essay

Size and looks have always been prominent within the human population. How much a person weighed and looked was used to reflect on someone’s financial status. Historically, the bigger someone was made them deemed as wealthy since they had enough money to feed themselves. Obesity used to receive a positive connotation. Today, obesity is seen with negative connotations such as having bad hygiene or being poor. People in poverty are more susceptible to obesity due to expensive food options, unavailable free time, and the area that they live in. Obesity isn’t just caused by not eating healthy. In America, over one-third of adults are obese (Miller 191). “Those with low wages had increased BMI as well as increased chance of being obese” (Kim and …show more content…
“It takes longer to prepare healthful meals than to buy convenience foods or fast food” (Darmon and Drewnowski). People with lower-incomes are more likely to be working a full time at a job while also working another part-time job. They may not have the time to prepare a healthy meal or even buy the ingredients. Fast food places are more convenient and cheap, causing people who live in poverty to buy fast food (Darmon and Drewnowski). “Single parents working full time and taking care of children, may have less time for meal preparation and other household chores” (Darmon and Drewnowski). 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