A child walks down the fruit and vegetables isle, looks up at her mother with big brown eyes and asks her if they could buy some apples and carrots for the week. The mother stares back down at the child and says, "We cannot afford healthy foods honey." As families start to run out of money at the end of the month, the amount they eat decreases exponentially. Nearly 27% of Low-Income people are likely to be hospitalized from hypoglycemia in the last week of the month than in the first. Hypoglycemia is a condition that occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) is too low. An expert on obesity, Adrianna McIntyre says, "We can't separate social policy and health policy for low-income households" (O'Brien). A lot of americans do not fully understand the situations the homeless and hungry are in. There are presumptions made about them, but this paper will clarify some myths. There are many factors that contribute to being obese, but a persons income is the primary factor.
How is obesity different than being overweight? Obesity defines itself as having too much body fat. Obesity can be caused from eating more food than your body can take in, drinking too much alcohol, or not getting enough exercise. As a child, the way a person eats can ultimately affect his/her food habits as adults. The foods that people surround themselves with can have a positive or negative connotation to their body. Overweight is defined as above a weight considered normal or desirable. As people look themselves in the the mirror, a 120 female girl can state she is "overweight" because that is what she perceives herself as. Overweight is ultimately powered by the individual. If they believe they are overweight, then they take necessary precautions in trying to lose it.
People with low-income and food insecurity are vulnerable to obesity. They face unique challenges in their day to day lives trying to establish healthy eating habits for themselves and their family.