Post by Souriquois on Sept 22, 2017 18:21:52 GMT -4
It was a thought I had in a discussion on ABF this morning.
European calls North Americans fat. I responded that:
1. I have seen my fair share of fat Europeans and
2. In North America, obesity is linked with poverty
From the American Diabetes Association :
As for my point about fat Europeans, well, the continental Europeans were saying they saw the fat people in Britain. Well, Britain has much of the same economic conditions as the US.
Prior to 2008, I had never seen a fat continental European. However, after 2008, particularly when you hear about the Euro crisis and austerity plaguing Europe, I have started to see lots of them.
And while, I am not against trade deals (I am pro international trade), I am against the way they are under neoliberalism, where capital and labour can just cross borders with not rules. It ain't fair to workers, or smaller countries. I'd like to see them reformed in a more fair way... well, it should be noted that obesity rates skyrocketed in both Canada and Mexico after NAFTA took effect.
You think there is a connection?
European calls North Americans fat. I responded that:
1. I have seen my fair share of fat Europeans and
2. In North America, obesity is linked with poverty
From the American Diabetes Association :
Are poverty and obesity associated? Poverty rates and obesity were reviewed across 3,139 counties in the U.S. (2,6). In contrast to international trends, people in America who live in the most poverty-dense counties are those most prone to obesity (Fig. 1A). Counties with poverty rates of >35% have obesity rates 145% greater than wealthy counties.
How is poverty linked to obesity? It has been suggested that individuals who live in impoverished regions have poor access to fresh food. Poverty-dense areas are oftentimes called “food deserts,” implying diminished access to fresh food (7). However, 43% of households with incomes below the poverty line ($21,756) are food insecure (uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, sufficient food) (7). Accordingly, 14% of U.S. counties have more than 1 in 5 individuals use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The county-wide utility of the program, as expected, correlates with county-wide poverty rates (r = 0.81) (7). Thus, in many poverty-dense regions, people are in hunger and unable to access affordable healthy food, even when funds avail. The double-edged sword of hunger and poor availability of healthy food is, however, unlikely to be the only reason as to why obesity tracks with poverty.
There is evidence of the association between sedentariness, poor health, obesity, diabetes, other metabolic diseases, and premature death (8). Sedentary individuals move 2 h per day less than active individuals and expend less energy, and they are thereby prone to obesity, chronic metabolic disease, and cardiovascular death (9). More than half of county-to-county variance in obesity can be accounted for by variance in sedentariness (Fig. 1B). Overall, the poorest counties have the greatest sedentariness (Fig. 1C) and obesity.
Several reasons may explain why people living in poor counties are less active. One reason may be that violence tracks with poverty, thereby preventing people from being active out-of-doors. Similarly, parks and sports facilities are less available to people living in poor counties (5), and people who live in poverty-dense regions may be less able to afford gym membership, sports clothing, and/or exercise equipment. There are multiple individual and environmental reasons to explain why poverty-dense counties may be more sedentary and bear greater obesity burdens. What is unknown is whether reversing poverty would reverse sedentariness and obesity. It is an urgent matter to address—both rates of childhood obesity and poverty are concomitantly on the rise (1,2).
How is poverty linked to obesity? It has been suggested that individuals who live in impoverished regions have poor access to fresh food. Poverty-dense areas are oftentimes called “food deserts,” implying diminished access to fresh food (7). However, 43% of households with incomes below the poverty line ($21,756) are food insecure (uncertain of having, or unable to acquire, sufficient food) (7). Accordingly, 14% of U.S. counties have more than 1 in 5 individuals use the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The county-wide utility of the program, as expected, correlates with county-wide poverty rates (r = 0.81) (7). Thus, in many poverty-dense regions, people are in hunger and unable to access affordable healthy food, even when funds avail. The double-edged sword of hunger and poor availability of healthy food is, however, unlikely to be the only reason as to why obesity tracks with poverty.
There is evidence of the association between sedentariness, poor health, obesity, diabetes, other metabolic diseases, and premature death (8). Sedentary individuals move 2 h per day less than active individuals and expend less energy, and they are thereby prone to obesity, chronic metabolic disease, and cardiovascular death (9). More than half of county-to-county variance in obesity can be accounted for by variance in sedentariness (Fig. 1B). Overall, the poorest counties have the greatest sedentariness (Fig. 1C) and obesity.
Several reasons may explain why people living in poor counties are less active. One reason may be that violence tracks with poverty, thereby preventing people from being active out-of-doors. Similarly, parks and sports facilities are less available to people living in poor counties (5), and people who live in poverty-dense regions may be less able to afford gym membership, sports clothing, and/or exercise equipment. There are multiple individual and environmental reasons to explain why poverty-dense counties may be more sedentary and bear greater obesity burdens. What is unknown is whether reversing poverty would reverse sedentariness and obesity. It is an urgent matter to address—both rates of childhood obesity and poverty are concomitantly on the rise (1,2).
As for my point about fat Europeans, well, the continental Europeans were saying they saw the fat people in Britain. Well, Britain has much of the same economic conditions as the US.
Prior to 2008, I had never seen a fat continental European. However, after 2008, particularly when you hear about the Euro crisis and austerity plaguing Europe, I have started to see lots of them.
And while, I am not against trade deals (I am pro international trade), I am against the way they are under neoliberalism, where capital and labour can just cross borders with not rules. It ain't fair to workers, or smaller countries. I'd like to see them reformed in a more fair way... well, it should be noted that obesity rates skyrocketed in both Canada and Mexico after NAFTA took effect.
You think there is a connection?