Classism and Health @diseasesandclassism-blog - Tumblr Blog

The chart was put together by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, but its figures still, alas, look quite relevant. Thanks to lobbying, Congress chooses to subsidize foods that we’re supposed to eat less of.

Salad vs. Burgers

Of course, there are surely other reasons why burgers are cheaper than salads. These might include production costs, since harvesting apples is probably more naturally seasonal than slaughtering cows (even though both are in demand year-round). Transportation and storage costs might also play a role, as it’s probably easier to keep ground beef fresh and edible for extended periods of time, by freezing it, than cucumbers

To be healthy costs money

When available, healthy food is often more expensive, whereas refined grains, added sugars, and fats are generally inexpensive and readily available in low-income communities (Drewnowski, 2010; Drewnowski et al., 2007; Drewnowski & Specter, 2004; Monsivais & Drewnowski, 2007; Monsivais & Drewnowski, 2009). Households with limited resources to buy enough food often try to stretch their food budgets by purchasing cheap, energy-dense foods that are filling – that is, they try to maximize their calories per dollar in order to stave off hunger (Basiotis & Lino, 2002; Drewnowski & Specter, 2004; Drewnowski, 2009). While less expensive, energy-dense foods typically have lower nutritional quality and, because of overconsumption of calories, have been linked to obesity (Hartline-Grafton et al., 2009; Howarth et al., 2006; Kant & Graubard, 2005).

Limited resources and lack of access to healthy, affordable foods.

Low-income neighborhoods frequently lack full-service grocery stores and farmers’ marketswhere residents can buy a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products (Beaulac et al., 2009; Larson et al., 2009). Instead, residents – especially those without reliable transportation – may be limited to shopping at small neighborhood convenience and corner stores, where fresh produce and low-fat items are limited, if available at all. One of the most comprehensive reviews of U.S. studies examining neighborhood disparities in food access found that neighborhood residents with better access to supermarkets and limited access to convenience stores tend to have healthier diets and reduced risk for obesity (Larson et al., 2009).

http://frac.org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/why-are-low-income-and-food-insecure-people-vulnerable-to-obesity/

Why Low-Income and Food Insecure People are Vulnerable to Overweight and Obesity

Due to the additional risk factors associated with poverty, food insecure and low-income people are especially vulnerable to obesity (see the section on the Relationship Between Hunger and Overweight or Obesity and the section on the Relationship Between Poverty and Overweight or Obesity).

http://frac.org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/why-are-low-income-and-food-insecure-people-vulnerable-to-obesity/

Commonly found in low income neighborhoods

Relationships; Low Income < Healthy Food

The relation between food, incomes and health should once again become a priority for global public health. The major policy and political challenge for global nutrition is to ensure a supply of affordable healthy foods to all.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/opinion/article/The-dual-burden-of-being-overweight-and-1291903.php#ixzz2HORxYWDf

#food

Low Income Neighborhoods = Unhealthy Fast Food Restaurants

The issue of access to food sources is only now getting recognition. Poor neighborhoods attract fast food outlets and convenience stores as opposed to full-service supermarkets, an issue sometimes framed in terms of social justice.

Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/local/opinion/article/The-dual-burden-of-being-overweight-and-1291903.php#ixzz2HOReTdLj

Healthy Food = $$$

However, given that many healthful foods have become luxury goods, their availability is driven by neighborhood buying power. It is a shame that many of the current strategies for obesity management are based not around alleviating poverty but around recommending high-cost foods to low-income people.

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