Cost of Food & Obesity Amongst Poorer People

breadlinebetty

Statistics show that most wealthy people generally tend to be slim, whilst obesity is more prevalent amongst poorer people.

Now, I know some people will say that wealthier people can afford to eat fruit, veg, fresh fish etc and go to the gym etc - and to some extent that's true.

But I still don't understand why poorer people suffer from obesity while rich people tend not to? Take exercise for example, if someone doesn't have much money, then surely walking or cycling are cheaper options than going to the gym? Walking cost nothing.

And junk food....that's no cheaper than fresh healthy food.

Instead of, say, paying £3.50 for Saveloy and chips, why not bake a spud and fill it with beans or an egg? Much tastier, healthier and cheaper too. And less fattening.

How do poorer obese people manage to maintain their bulk? I've seen some of them on TV who are unemployed and claim to eat Chinese take-aways almost every night! How do they afford that? And if they can afford a take-away every night why can't they make some healthy low-fat meals at home?

I don't believe it's just to do with education: dietery advice is in every doctors' surgey, hospital, newspapers, magazines etc.....

But I've digressed somewhat....I'm not so much asking WHY poorer people eat the way they do - I'm just curious how they can afford to eat so much?:cool:

~Chameleon~

breadlinebetty wrote:

I don't believe it's just to do with education: dietery advice is in every doctors' surgey, hospital, newspapers, magazines etc.....

Most of which is contradictory and downright confusing for many people.

Education, first and foremost. Also, studies show they're more likely to be duped by advertisements amongst the food industry into believing something is healthy when it's really not.

PaulF81

breadlinebetty wrote: »

Statistics show that most wealthy people generally tend to be slim, whilst obesity is more prevalent amongst poorer people.

Now, I know some people will say that wealthier people can afford to eat fruit, veg, fresh fish etc and go to the gym etc - and to some extent that's true.

But I still don't understand why poorer people suffer from obesity while rich people tend not to? Take exercise for example, if someone doesn't have much money, then surely walking or cycling are cheaper options than going to the gym? Walking cost nothing.

And junk food....that's no cheaper than fresh healthy food.

Instead of, say, paying £3.50 for Saveloy and chips, why not bake a spud and fill it with beans or an egg? Much tastier, healthier and cheaper too. And less fattening.

How do poorer obese people manage to maintain their bulk? I've seen some of them on TV who are unemployed and claim to eat Chinese take-aways almost every night! How do they afford that? And if they can afford a take-away every night why can't they make some healthy low-fat meals at home?

I don't believe it's just to do with education: dietery advice is in every doctors' surgey, hospital, newspapers, magazines etc.....

But I've digressed somewhat....I'm not so much asking WHY poorer people eat the way they do - I'm just curious how they can afford to eat so much?:cool:

The sloth is in their genetic being. Why they are on benefits and not working.

Meadows

breadlinebetty wrote: »

Statistics show that most wealthy people generally tend to be slim, whilst obesity is more prevalent amongst poorer people.

Who's statistics are these then? and you can make a statistic read anything you want it to read.
You only have to look at overweight celebrities etc. who have money to see this statistic does not hold water!

breadlinebetty wrote: »

I'm just curious how they can afford to eat so much?

Because junk food is cheap (supermarket weekly offers are always junk food based with crisps, biscuits, cakes, jarred sauces etc.) and people do not bother to cook real food from scratch which is not only cheaper in the long run but healthier.

VfM4meplse

Just to add to you picture OP - PH stats show that the divide is growing. Health messages are embraced by those in the higher social-economic groups, compared with those in the lower.

You can't force people to "choose health" unless you legislate, ie give them no choice!

breadlinebetty

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Most of which is contradictory and downright confusing for many people.

Education, first and foremost. Also, studies show they're more likely to be duped by advertisements amongst the food industry into believing something is healthy when it's really not.

How can you say that advice from the medical council to eat 5 fruits a day etc is confusing???

The medical council do not advetise banded foods.

~Chameleon~

breadlinebetty wrote: »

How can you say that advice from the medical council to eat 5 fruits a day etc is confusing???

The medical council do not advetise banded foods.

That's actually a minimum requirement, you really should be eating 9+ a day of mostly vegetables of all colours. Eating too much fruit is bad for you, it contains high levels of sugar and can contribute to developing diabetes.

The food industry also includes all manner of spurious foods that count as one of your 5 a day when you look at the labels! People are being grossly misled!

kabayiri

Meadows wrote: »

...
Because junk food is cheap (supermarket weekly offers are always junk food based with crisps, biscuits, cakes, jarred sauces etc.) and people do not bother to cook real food from scratch which is not only cheaper in the long run but healthier.

From a manufacturer point of view, so called junk food is cheaper to produce and has a longer shelf life.

UK food consumers are extremely price sensitive, and suppliers know this.

~Chameleon~

kabayiri wrote: »

From a manufacturer point of view, so called junk food is cheaper to produce and has a longer shelf life.

UK food consumers are extremely price sensitive, and suppliers know this.

And supermarkets predominantly sell junk food with only a small percentage of fresh, healthy food. Aisle upon aisle is filled with processed junk, high in sugar, salt and other chemicals, under the guise of "convenience".

PaulF81

All of which is liable for vat and thus much more expensive than buying raw inedients to make a meal.

Tax junk more heavily. It has been talked about. Raise vat on these products to 30% to save the NHS budget in 20 years time.

CLAPTON

breadlinebetty wrote: »

How can you say that advice from the medical council to eat 5 fruits a day etc is confusing???

The medical council do not advetise banded foods.

yes I find it very confusing

also the new 'trafffic light' system is also very confusing and is likely to remove 'real' information that currently exists.