Disciplinary research Review Project
Project Sections
Obesity is a major epidemic that has been plaguing the United States for years. "Obesity rates among adults and children in the United States have steadily risen in the past few decades. About 18.4 percent of 12-19-year-olds are overweight or obese and childhood obesity often continues into adulthood" (2). Growing up near low income neighborhoods and schools, I witnessed the prevalence of childhood obesity in these areas. I however, just a few streets over, was fortunate enough to have grown up in a middle class neighborhood where neither myself nor my parents or neighbors suffered from obesity. These observations lead me to wonder why neighborhoods seemed to determine obesity rates. As I dived deeper into research I soon discovered that socioeconomic background does in fact play a major role in childhood obesity. My curiosity did not end there though. I then asked,
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why does socioeconomic background affect childhood obesity?
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My research journey began after that, and I soon discovered the various factors that lead to higher rates of childhood obesity in lower socioeconomic families.
Background Information
Before discussing socioeconomic status and its relationship to childhood obesity, it is important to prove that socioeconomic background affects childhood obesity more than race, although that is a popular misconception. Table 1 from the source 1 title “The Relationship between Childhood Obesity, Low Socioeconomic Status, and Race/Ethnicity: Lessons from Massachusetts”, demonstrates how low income resulted in higher obesity rates than African American or Hispanic races alone by “represent[ing] a national survey of 18,369 children using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database and offers confirmatory evidence that childhood obesity has far more to do with resources than it does the color of a child's skin or his or her ethnic origin" (1). This proves that low income has a larger effect on childhood obesity than race alone. There is also a clear connection between neighborhoods and schools of lower socioeconomic background and obesity. My second source, reinforces this concept saying, "among the school districts for every 1 percent increase in low-income status there was a 1.17 percent increase in rates of overweight/obese students" (2). This highlights the direct relationship between income and childhood obesity.
In a YouTube video, researchers from Rice University explain this concept further through a study they conducted examining the levels of childhood obesity in lower income areas (7). Their results were conclusive with the other sources. They attributed this to inaccessible healthy options for food and recreational opportunities. They also suggest that “programs aimed at alleviating poverty are aimed at the individual or family level… [and] that these kinds of policies would be better targeted at whole communities” (7) based off of their findings on the connection between low income neighborhoods and childhood obesity.
I think the reason it is widely believed that race contributes to obesity more than income is because of the connection between minority races and low income neighborhoods. People overlook the socioeconomic factor and assume race is the cause.
Family Background Matters
Parental Income
A parents income greatly affects the probability of their child being obese, because the higher or the lower the income, the more or less able they will be to provide their child with the proper nutrients they need. My third source titled, “Trajectories of overweight among US school children: a focus on social and economic characteristics” explains that “low parental income and education were both significant risk factors for the gradual onset of overweight after beginning Kindergarten", further explaining the disadvantage of a lower income to a child's health. They also explain the obvious benefits and surprising dangers of higher income too saying, “the effects of income may be more complex because income can be used to purchase healthier food, but can also increase consumption of obesity-promoting goods and activities (e.g., video games and fast food)" (3). This explains why there are still levels of childhood obesity among children of higher socioeconomic background. Either way, it is clear that the parents’ income has an impact on childhood obesity.
When discussing the relationship between childhood obesity and socioeconomic background, one must note that the child's socioeconomic background comes firstly from their parents and their income, marital status, education, and beliefs
Parental Marital Status
A parent’s marital status can affect their income, and thereby increase or decrease their child’s chances of becoming obese. My fourth source explains other factors that a parent's marital status has on their child’s health saying, “children in a single parent home spent significantly more time watching television than those in a dual parent home, and also spent less time exercising in physical education classes at school" (4). Although this may not apply to every child of a single family home, many single parent homes also are of low socioeconomic status, which does contribute to childhood obesity.
Parental Education
In addition to a parent’s income and marital status, a parent’s education plays a big role in their child’s probability of becoming obese. My fourth source explains this saying, “parental education may reduce the risk of overweight if education is related to health knowledge and better child feeding practices” (4).
Parental Culture
Lastly, a parent’s cultural background and beliefs has an influence on their child’s probability of becoming obese. The third source describes this concept by explaining how children of "immigrant parents who spent most of their life in their home countries may be unfamiliar with US foods and grocery stores, unaware of the health risks of American junk food, and uniformed about opportunities for their children to participate in sports or other school related activities” (3). This quote also shows how other factors such as background, affects childhood obesity more than race alone, because it is not the race of the immigrants that leads to their child's obesity, it is because the lack of knowledge of American food. This same source also explains how some immigrants' cultures value obesity as a sign of wealth and satisfaction, especially if they are coming from a country that has high poverty and food insecurity rates (3).
Parental Attitudes & Habits
Not only can a parent’s educational background affect their child’s health, their attitudes can as well. My fourth source says that, “a child’s parents… may have a significant effect on their activity level and the amount of sedentary behavior in which they take part” (4). They back this information up with “a study of adolescents in Norway… found that individuals with parents and friends who valued physical activity and helped engage the adolescent in some form of activity were more likely to be physically active themselves" (4).
Children look up to their parents, so it is important that they set a good and healthy example for their children.
Access to healthy food
The healthy meal disparities between higher and lower income families is arguably the most detrimental barrier people of low socioeconomic status face when trying to combat childhood obesity. There are two main reasons why this disparity exists:
food deserts
and
Healthy Food Prices
Food Deserts
CNN Business explains that a “food desert means there's no supermarket within a mile" (5).
This means that residents of neighborhoods in food deserts are left with smaller grocery stores often with limited healthy options, or a long journey to a bigger store that would cost money if using public transportation. Residents of higher income neighborhoods do not face these same issues.
According to The Food Trust, "Accessing healthy food is a challenge for many Americans—particularly those living in low-income neighborhoods, communities of color, and rural areas” due to “lack of supermarkets, lack of healthy, high quality foods in nearby stores, predominance of convenience/corner/ liquor stores, lack of transportation access to stores” (6). This further explains why people of lower socioeconomic status have a harder time gaining access to healthy food by demonstrating the necessary components they lack.
A CNN news clip shows the struggles a single mother living in a food desert has trying to provide her children with healthy options. The news clip shows her facing two main barriers that many people of low socioeconomic status face trying to avoid obesity: traveling from a food desert to a larger grocery store, and affording the healthier options once she arrives (5). Both sources explain the systemic barriers placed between families of low socioeconomic status and the ability to lead a healthy lifestyle.
Healthy food prices
In addition to living in food deserts, people of low socioeconomic status have a harder time gaining access to healthy food options for their families because of the expensive costs of nutritious foods. A Vox YoutTube video explains why healthy foods are more expensive than unhealthy ones, and why this leads to obesity by showing how it is cheaper to purchase unhealthy foods that are higher in calories and dangerous ingredients, than it is to purchase more healthy options with less calories and more nutrients (8). They also explain how it is cheaper in the agriculture industry to produce inorganic produce with pesticides and machines than it is to grow produce naturally with human labor (8).
My ninth source adds to this problem saying "BMI is most sensitive to the price of fast food in particular for youth from families of low socioeconomic status" (9). This quote in conjunction with the video, proves how the price of food can affect childhood obesity in relation to low socioeconomic status by demonstrating the high costs of nutritious options versus the extremely low cost of unhealthy and fast food, and how this affects the access to these options. Expensive healthy food options are less accessible than cheaper unhealthy foods for people of low socioeconomic status. This leaves them with the unhealthy options, leading to higher rates in these communities.
At this point you're probably thinking...
There are government funded programs, like food stamps, that help people of lower socioeconomic status gain access to necessities. However, these programs may not be as helpful as they may seem. My tenth source, a Yotuube video titled “What Everyone Gets Wrong About Food Stamps”, explains the restrictions food stamps place on a family, and common misconceptions of who is on food stamps (10). For example, California food bank CEO Eric Talkin dispels the common misconception that people who are on food stamps are inherently lazy and profiting off of the government's aid, by explaining how most people he sees at local soup kitchens that are on food stamps are working to support their family.
Okay, but aren't there programs that help people of lower socioeconomic levels to be able to afford basic necessities, like food stamps?
Access to recreational opportunities
In addition to healthy eating, another major component of a healthy lifestyle is regular exercise. Lack of exercise leads to obesity. Children of low socioeconomic backgrounds often exercise less due to inaccessible recreational opportunities. This is because low income neighborhoods usually do not have quality gyms or parks that promote a healthy lifestyle. My seventh source explains how having access to parks helps children to stay active and fight obesity(7). The third source, titled “Socioeconomic Factors in the Development of Childhood Obesity and Diabetes”, explains the correlation between obesity rates and levels of physical activity, saying “BMI was significantly lower in those participants engaged in at least moderate physical activity. Conversely, lower levels of physical activity were associated with an increased risk for being overweight” (3). This demonstrates the importance of physical activity in prevention against childhood obesity.
Playground in low socioeconomic neighborhood
Playground in high socioeconomic neighborhood
Not only do low socioeconomic neighborhoods have less parks and gyms than higher income neighborhoods, their schools tend not to promote physical activity as much as a school in a higher income community would. The third source describes this saying, “children from lower SES groups were less likely to attend schools that required physical education (49.6% for those in the lowest SES group compared with 59.2% for those in the highest). Students from lower SES groups were also less likely to participate in varsity or intramural sports, or physical activity clubs... These discrepancies in physical education and activity place those from a lower SES at a great disadvantage, as their decreased physical activity places them at high risk for becoming overweight and obese” (3). As proven by this quote, gym class plays a vital role in a child's chance of becoming obese.
Now that it is clear that physical activity has a major role in rates of childhood obesity, it is important to understand the disadvantage that people of low socioeconomic background have less access to recreational opportunities than their higher socioeconomic counterparts. This is another reason why low socioeconomic background leads to childhood obesity.
My Final Thoughts & Ideas
After thoroughly researching why socioeconomic background affects childhood obesity, all ten of my sources pointed to three factors that contribute to this pandemic: the parent’s background, access to healthy food, and access to recreational opportunities. I think it is important that people of all communities learn about this topic because once one understands the health barriers that low socioeconomic status creates, common misconceptions and prejudgments about members of these communities can be dispelled, and instead compassion can be applied to the problem.
Current
Problem
Possible Solutions
Today a new obstacle for children of low socioeconomic background facing obesity is remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic. State restrictions have closed gyms and parks, making it hard for people to get out and exercise in effort to promote social distancing. In addition to this, schools have been closed, leaving young children to be cooped up in their houses learning online for hours a day. Schools in low income areas often provide meals to their students who may not have access to these meals, like free breakfast, lunch, and snacks throughout the school day. Now that these young children are not attending school in person, they are potentially losing two meals a day if they are from a severely food insecure and low income household, which most students attending urban schools in low socioeconomic neighborhoods are. In addition to possibly losing necessary nutrients, these children are also losing access to physical activity and education from gym class and recess. As explained throughout the rest of the project, access to healthy food and recreational opportunities are vital in a child's health and preventing obesity. Therefore, the COVID-19 pandemic’s restrictions are putting the health of young children of low socioeconomic background in danger.
I have thought of some possible solutions to aid in the current obstacle remote elementary age students are facing. One would be to provide information about local soup kitchens and healthy eating during virtual class time. Teaching kids about healthy eating encourages them to be more aware of their health. Although children can not always control what they eat, it is still important to teach them what they should be eating to stay healthy. In addition to incorporating this information into the curriculum, there could be a virtual physical education class where teachers could have their students do adaptable exercises in their homes. This way they could still get some form of physical activity. I think that these two ideas are manageable and relevant in today’s current conditions and fight against childhood obesity.
References
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Rogers, Robert et al. “The Relationship between Childhood Obesity, Low Socioeconomic Status, and Race/Ethnicity: Lessons from Massachusetts.” Childhood obesity (Print) vol. 11,6 (2015): 691-5. doi:10.1089/chi.2015.0029. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4939441/#B37
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Robert Rogers; Taylor F. Eagle; Anne Sheetz, M.P.H.; Alan Woodward, M.D.; Robert Leibowitz, Ph.D.; MinKyoung Song, Ph.D.; Rachel Sylvester; Nicole Corriveau; Eva Kline-Rogers; Qingmei Jiang and Elizabeth Jackson, M.D., M.P.H. “Race Matters Less than Expected in Study Showing Relationship between Poverty and Obesity.” Michigan Institute for Health Care Policy and Innovation , 2016, https://ihpi.umich.edu/news/low-income-communities-more-likely-face-childhood-obesity
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Balistreri, K.S., and J. Van Hook. "Trajectories of overweight among US school children: a focus on social and economic characteristics." Maternal and Child Health Journal, vol. 15, no. 5, 2011, p. 610+. Gale Academic OneFile. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3193986/
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Lieb, David C et al. “Socioeconomic factors in the development of childhood obesity and diabetes.” Clinics in sports medicine vol. 28,3 (2009): 349-78. doi:10.1016/j.csm.2009.02.004. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5596457/
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CNN Business. “Feeding a Family on a Food Stamp Budget”. Online Video. Youtube. Youtube, 22 June, 2015. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXKkakwf6Vk&feature=youtu.be
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Karpyn, Allison, and Treuhaft, Sarah. “The Grocery Gap: Who Has Access to Healthy Food and Why it Matters”. The Food Trust, 2010. http://thefoodtrust.org/uploads/media_items/grocerygap.original.pdf
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Denney, Justin and Kimbro, Rachel. “Childhood obesity more likely to affect children in poorer neighborhoods”. YouTube, uploaded by Rice University, 9 November 2012, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2J1qT7Ys2A&feature=youtu.be
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Vox. “Why Eating Healthy Is So Expensive in America” Online Video. YouTube. Youtube, 22 March. 2018. https://youtu.be/HOE5QDDKDlY
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Cawley, John. “The Economics Of Childhood Obesity: Health Affairs Journal.” Health Affairs, Project Hope- The People to People Health Foundation, Inc. , 1 Mar. 2010. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2009.0721?journalCode=hlthaff
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NowThisNews. “What Everyone Gets Wrong About Food Stamps”. Online Video. Youtube. Youtube, 19 August, 2019. https://youtu.be/ygDBg_AZaKE