NUTRITION AND SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS

Randi Wagner IGED 270-01 Professor Chatman June 25, 2013

Wagner 2 Since I began studying nutrition, many questions and concerns have come to the forefront of my mind regarding nutrition and the masses. As I learn in depth information on the effects of food (or the lack of food) on the human body, I grow increasingly concerned for the health of our nation. I have chosen to highlight children in this research because as I see it, our children hold the key to the future. There are many contributing factors to poor health, such as lack of nutrition education, socioeconomic status, influence of parents or other family members, and place of residence. Poverty and low socioeconomic status have well-documented relationships to poor health status.1 A current focus in America is fitness and nutrition education. However, as overweight and avoidable health problems continue to rise, it is clear that the message is not making it to everyone. We need to find a way to educate children in every station in order to afford everyone a fair chance at success in life. Government programs that assist the population with food are in dire need of an overhaul to effectively support healthy living. People living in food deserts need a way to overcome the lack of healthy food available to them. Concentrating on education and improving Nutrition Assistance Programs will allow Americans to work on disease prevention instead of working with the current reactionary mentality. While most of the research found was related to overweight or obesity, it seems fair to say that above average weight presently or eventually takes a toll on the overall health of the individual, making it relevant to this discussion. Aside from medical issues that may contribute to weight gain, such as hypothyroidism or depression, overweight or

Christine Olson. Nutrition and Health Outcomes Associated with Food Insecurity and Hunger, The Journal of Nutrition, 1999, http://jn.nutrition.org/content/129/2/521S.full.

Wagner 3 obesity are typically caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Poor nutrition, lack of exercise, or likely a combination of both contributes to this problem. With approximately one in three children in America presenting as overweight or obese, we have a very real problem on our hands. Surgeon General Richard Carmona has stated, Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents." 2 In a country that appears to have access to so much food and education, these facts are simply appalling. Proper nutrition is crucial to the development of humans from the moment of conception. What and how much a mother eats directly affects her growing fetus. If proper nutrition is not followed or even available, both mother and baby suffer the effects, although said effects may not be revealed until much later in life. From infancy to adolescence, nutrition plays a part in both physical and cognitive development. A child who is inadequately nourished, whether by lack of food or with the wrong kind of food, may suffer intellectual deficiencies that puts him or her at risk to do poorly in school. This scenario may lead to a multitude of outcomes, from failing out of high school to turning to the wrong kind of crowd for acceptance and guidance. As the adolescent moves into adulthood, he or she may be unable to attain a job, may become dependent on government assistance, and may begin his or her own familyand the cycle possibly repeats. On the other hand, children and adults alike that maintain poor nutrition habits are at a higher risk for everyday health problems. The implications of this include missing school or work, which could result in

Overweight in Children, American Heart Association, 2013, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/Overweight-inChildren_UCM_304054_Article.jsp.

Wagner 4 the inability to catch up on learning or being fired from a job. In every way, it clearly pays to make nutrition and a healthy lifestyle a top priority at any age. There are currently a number of government programs that are available to assist low-income families with food, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). They seem to operate with the best of intentions and even provide nutrition information on their websites. Children who participate in SNAP have been found to have higher levels of essential vitamins and minerals, like iron, zinc, niacin, thiamin, and vitamin A. The same children also have lower rates of nutritional deficiency than children at comparable economic levels. While there is plenty of positivity in that aspect, there is a trend of higher rates of obesity among some SNAP users. According to a 2007 study posted on the SNAP website, no trend was seen when rates of obesity and overweight were compared between SNAP participants and non-participants at the same income level for the majority of the SNAP population. However, the same study found that among the nonelderly female population, participation in the SNAP program did correlate with higher obesity and overweight rates.3 It makes little sense that people without much money would continuously gain weight after participating in this program. In speaking with a relative who is a current SNAP user, it became even more obvious that the program and others like it need to change if they want to make a mostly positive impact on the group utilizing it. She stated that she vaguely remembers receiving a pamphlet on nutrition, which indicates that more needs to be done to educate people that are about to use the program. She also said that there is no incentive to buy fresh

SNAP and Obesity: The Facts and Fictions of SNAP Nutrition, SNAP To Health, http://www.snaptohealth.org/snap/snap-and-obesity-the-facts-and-fictions-of-snapnutrition/.

Wagner 5 fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I know I tend to buy cheaper stuff so the money I spend goes farther and it usually is not that healthy. I buy a lot of starches like rice and pasta and canned meats, veggies, and fruits.4 With no incentive to buy healthy, nutrientrich foods and no real nutrition education to speak of, SNAP users can feel free to purchase a plethora of foods that are laden with calories, fat, sodium, and refined sugar. In fact, according to USDA surveys, most low-income respondents spent their limited food dollars on energy-dense foods that were largely composed of added sugars and fat.5 SNAP has no restrictions on candy, soda, energy drinks, or junk food. This combination can surely contribute to rising numbers of overweight and obese users. The biggest problem here is the health issues people may experience later in life, such as metabolic syndrome and heart disease. My initial intention was to explore the gaps in nutrition education throughout the country. However, I found what I think may be more problematic: the lack of healthy food availability in certain communities. Schools can provide all of the education in the world, but if the food is not there, what good is it? I started by looking at the most overweight region in America, the South. Over 30% of the residents in states like Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia are reportedly obese.6 In an article for The Anniston Star of Alabama, Tim Lockette states, The study, an annual survey of 15,500 students in 158 schools nationwide, concluded that 17 percent of Alabama students in grades 9 through 12 were obese in 2011. Another 15.8 percent were considered Samantha Read, e-mail message to author, June 24, 2013. Adam Drewnowski and SE Specter, Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 2004, http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/1/6.full 6 Adult Obesity Facts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012, http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.
5 4

Wagner 6 overweight meaning that 32.8 percent of Alabama high school students were above what is considered a healthy weight.7 Imagine the impact this will have on their lives as they leave high school. What is also of note is that these states are among the poorest in the United States. There are several possible reasons for the poorest states having the largest obesity problem. Claire Suddath writes that culture may have something to do with it, as fried food is big on the menu, which may be compounded by lack of activity. The South doesn't have many bus stops. Public transportation is paltry, and for most people, the best way to get around is by car.8 I can certainly see how this point is valid to the argument. Since I have started taking public transportation, I walk a lot more and climb a lot of stairs. She also brings up points such as lack of sidewalk space for walking or jogging, hot and humid temperatures that keep people from wanting to be outside, and lack of grocery stores carrying healthy food options. In areas with the highest rates of poverty and obesity, there is an abundance of food from convenience stores and fast food restaurants. These areas, with a lack of grocery stores and fresh produce, are known as food deserts. Typically, stores that are close enough to get to either have no fresh food or it is too expensive. The stores that have an abundance of cheap produce can be at least twenty miles away, making it difficult or impossible to get to. While awareness about this problem is spreading, it is going to take a long time to fix. In the meantime, some people

Tim Lockette, Alabama high schoolers near top in obesity, soda consumption, The Anniston Star, 2012, http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/18925695/articleAlabama-high-schoolers-near-top-in-obesity--soda-consumption?instance=special. 8 Claire Suddath, Why Are Southerners So Fat, TIME Health & Family, 2009, http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1909406,00.html.

Wagner 7 are creating small gardens for their families or community plots within the town or place of worship.9 It is evident that there are many deep-seated issues in America that must be sorted out before we can make steady progress on nutrition and health. However, I think that if we begin with program reform and find ways to bring healthy foods to rural food deserts, as we do in urban areas, we may start seeing some great gains in health instead of waistlines.

Mississippi Food Deserts Fuel Obesity Epidemic, PBS Newshour, 2010, http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june10/food_06-03.html.

Wagner 8 Bibliography

Adult Obesity Facts. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2012. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html. Drewnowski, Adam and Specter, SE. Poverty and obesity: the role of energy density and energy costs. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2004. http://ajcn.nutrition.org/content/79/1/6.full. Lockette, Tim. Alabama high schoolers near top in obesity, soda consumption. The Anniston Star. 2012. http://www.annistonstar.com/view/full_story/18925695/article-Alabama-highschoolers-near-top-in-obesity--soda-consumption?instance=special. Mississippi Food Deserts Fuel Obesity Epidemic. PBS Newshour. 2010. http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/health/jan-june10/food_06-03.html. Olson, Christine. Nutrition and Health Outcomes Associated with Food Insecurity and Hunger. The Journal of Nutrition. 1999. http://jn.nutrition.org/content/129/2/521S.full. Overweight in Children. American Heart Association. 2013. http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/Overweight-inChildren_UCM_304054_Article.jsp. SNAP and Obesity: The Facts and Fictions of SNAP Nutrition. SNAP To Health. http://www.snaptohealth.org/snap/snap-and-obesity-the-facts-and-fictions-ofsnap-nutrition/. Suddath, Claire. Why Are Southerners So Fat. TIME Health & Family. 2009. http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1909406,00.html.