Eng 135 Final Research Paper

The Connection Between Obesity And Poverty

By: Tiffany Logan

DeVry University

The Connection between Obesity and Poverty

By: Tiffany Logan

DeVry University

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 among those living in poverty is connected. This trend can be corrected with access to better quality foods, better education leading to higher earnings, and better eating habits.

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...