Obesity The True Face of Fast Food Addiction - Research Paper Example

 Obesity: The True Face of Fast Food Addiction Introduction Obesity in children is one of the major health problems that United States is experiencing today. The epidemic of obesity has spread wide and fast. The modern lifestyle, which is usually lethargic, is considered as a major factor for obesity. However, studies have revealed that it is not the case. Health of a person is determined by his education, wealth and socioeconomic status (Foreyt, 2003, p. 416). Surprisingly, the factor that is found to be strongly associated with obesity is the lower socioeconomic status (SES) of a family. In the United States, the rates of obesity vary according to the ethnicity and SES (Bergin, C. & Bergin, D., 2012, p.73). Interestingly, the association of SES with obesity in the United States is different from other countries. In most countries, children who are taller and heavier are found to be from higher SES background (Bergin, C. & Bergin, D., 2012, p.73). However, study by Strauss and Knight (1999) found that in the developed countries like the United States, children who are obese predominantly belong to lower SES and minority ethnic background (Bergin, C. & Bergin, D., 2012, p.73). This finding is surprising as food insecurity and food scarcity is one of the major problems experienced by children from lower SES (Bergin, C. & Bergin, D., 2012, p.73). However, the studies found that the high calorie food that causes obesity in children come very cheap and is available in great quantity in the United States (Bergin, C. & Bergin, D., 2012, p.73). This food is well known as ‘fast food’. Hence, fast food is a major factor in explosion of epidemic of obesity among children from lower SES in the United States. All the major disadvantages like lack of access to healthy food, lack of money and easy accessibility to fast food, drives children from lower SES to get addicted to fast food. However, they fail to realize that even though fast food fulfills their hunger in cheap price, it causes great harm to their body, mind and personality in long term. Studies have associated major social disadvantages with obesity. Hence, children and families from lower SES need to take essential preventive steps like increasing physical activity, choosing healthy food and inculcating healthy eating habits in order to prevent development of obesity. The intervention techniques are necessary in reducing their dependency on fast food as even though it serves the purpose on temporary basis, the harm that it causes in long term basis by causing obesity in children, is more severe and devastating than the gain, as it not only causes physical problems through associated physical conditions, but also reduces the upward social mobility, occupational opportunities and life chances in the future. Role of Lower SES in Obesity It has been found that one of the most dominant risk factors in development of obesity in child is the socioeconomic status (SES) of the family (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). Surprisingly, the association between SES and prevalence of obesity in children is inversely proportional (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). That is, the children from lower SES families are more at risk of developing obesity than children from higher SES families (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). It is assumed that disadvantageous environment at home and in neighborhood proves to be great risk factors in development of obesity (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). For example, exposure to “sedentary lifestyle, energy-dense diet and permissive parental-feeding style” at home, which is experienced by children from lower SES, proves risky for healthy energy balance (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). Moreover, easy availability of fast food and lack of physical activities due to unsafe and unpleasant areas for playing also work as risk factors of obesity (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). However, some studies have revealed that in children from Black ethnic background, there is no relation between SES and obesity (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). The development of obesity in children from White ethnic background is associated inversely with SES of their parents (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). For example, in a survey by NHANES in 1999-2000, it was found that 40% of men and 34% of women from White ethnic background with lower SES were obese (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). On the other hand, in the families of White ethnic background with income greater than 400% of the poverty line, only 23% of women and 14% of men were found to be obese (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). Interestingly, the survey did not find any association of childhood obesity with lower SES (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). Children from Black ethnic background were found to be suffering from obesity despite of being from higher SES families (Haidet, Demirci & Arslanian, 2010, p. 81). This survey shows that lower SES is not associated with obesity in children. However, there are numerous other studies which prove that lower SES is strongly associated with obesity in children. Environmental Factors Lack of Access to Healthy Food Children from lower SES suffer from lack of healthy eating habits and healthy food. Even if they are provided with healthy food through school programs, the summer vacations change it all. It has been found that during the summer vacations, children and youth from lower SES become vulnerable to setbacks in their overall health and nutrition due to lack of access to healthy food (Cooper, Borman & Fairchild, 2010, p. 344). The unhealthy food and harmful eating habits at home not only negatively affect their overall physical well-being but also their learning abilities (Cooper, Borman & Fairchild, 2010, p. 344). In the United States, children from lower SES suffer from scarcity of food (Cooper, Borman & Fairchild, 2010, p. 344). According to a study by U.S. Department of Agriculture (2002), only one out of five children who “participate in federally subsidized meals during the regular school year also participate in such programs during the summer months” (Cooper, Borman & Fairchild, 2010, p. 344). Research study by Caballero (2004) has revealed that during the summer vacation, children regress to the measures of health such as body fat and BMI, due to lack of access to the nutrition program similar to the ones in schools (Cooper, Borman & Fairchild, 2010, p. 344). It is important to note here that children who showed large difference between school and summer growth rates belonged to the Black and Hispanic ethnic background (Cooper, Borman & Fairchild, 2010, p. 344). Most of the families belonging to Black and Hispanic ethnic background have lower SES. Hence, due to lack of access to healthy and nutritious food, children from lower SES are driven to choose unhealthy food, which is harmful not only for their childhood development but also for their future health. However, what really plays major role in children from lower SES getting attracted and addicted to unhealthy food is its easy accessibility, and lack of accessibility for healthy food. Lack of Accessibility to Supermarkets Major difference has been observed in the accessibility of quality food based on the class of the neighborhood. Numerous studies have revealed that in the neighborhoods made of predominantly ethnic minority and lower SES, there is difference in accessibility of supermarkets (Doyle, 2010, p. 55). Supermarkets are filled with healthy food, fruits, vegetables and fresh food stock (Doyle, 2010, p. 55). Hence, access to healthy food, healthful diet and lower obesity are associated with accessibility of supermarkets (Doyle, 2010, p. 55). Sadly, supermarkets are not easily accessible to people living in neighborhood dominated by minority ethnic background and lower SES. In one study, it was revealed that there are 30% fewer supermarkets that “carry high quality of fresh fruits and vegetables and affordable healthy foods such as whole grains, low-fat dairy products, and meats,” in the neighborhoods that predominantly consist of ethnic minorities (Doyle, 2010, p. 55). Other study found that there were 50 to 70% fewer chain of supermarkets in African American and Hispanic neighborhood compared with White and non-Hispanic neighborhoods (Doyle, 2010, p. 55). Unfortunately, residents who have limited access to supermarkets are left with no option but to shop for food at local convenience stores, where the quality of healthy food is not good and also, the food is more expensive (Doyle, 2010, p. 55). Sadly, even if the stores carry healthy food, they charge more for that food compared to supermarkets. For example, stores in neighborhoods whose residents are predominantly from Hispanic ethnic background or from lower SES, charge more for low fat milk, which is healthy, than for regular milk which is not that good for health (Doyle, 2010, p. 55). This makes it difficult for the people from lower SES to buy healthy food. In an attempt to save money, children from minority ethnic background and lower SES families have to choose food that is unhealthy and of low quality. Sadly, there is another factor related to food that proves disadvantageous for children from lower SES and minority ethnic background, and that is the accessibility to fast food restaurants. The Negative Impact of Fast-Food restaurants Neighborhoods with residents predominantly from Black ethnic background and lower SES have potentially increased access to fast-food restaurants along with lower accessibility to supermarkets (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). Block et al. found that there were 2.4 fast-food restaurants per square mile in areas where 80% of residents were from African American ethnic background, while there were only 1.5 fast-food restaurants per square mile in areas where 80% of residents were from non-Hispanic White ethnic background (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). This means that compared to the average size shopping areas for people from predominantly non-Hispanic White ethnic background, there were six additional fast-food restaurants in shopping areas for people from Black ethnic background (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). A study in California revealed that restaurants are more likely to be fast-food or fast-casual in neighborhoods with more African American residents than in neighborhoods with affluent and less African Americans residents (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). This fact increases the concern for children’s health as fast food is well known for its harmful effects on health of children. Fast food is considered to be harmful for health when consumed on regular basis. Higher calorie intake and higher saturated fat intake occurs with higher consumption of fast food (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). The addiction to fast food leads to decrease in interest of consumption of fruits and vegetables which results in decrease in consumption of nutritious and healthy food (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). Also, fast food is considered one of the major factors in increase of epidemic of obesity in children (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). Hence, the fact that fast-food restaurants are more easily accessible to children from minority ethnic background and lower SES families increases the concern regarding the grasp of addiction on these children (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). Another factor that attracts the children from minority ethnic background and lower SES to fast-food restaurants is the price of food items (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). The difference between the cost of low calorie and high calorie food is high enough to affect the choice of a person from lower SES family. Food items with high calorie, refined grains, sugars and fats come at a lower cost and hence, are inexpensive while the costs of nutritious food like fruits and vegetables is high (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). Sadly, instead of getting narrow, the disparity between the costs of nutritious food and low-nutrient high calorie food is growing continuously (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). A recent study in Seattle supermarkets found that the price of energy-dense foods high in sugar and fat has not changed in last two years while the cost of food with lowest energy density such as fresh vegetables and fruits has increased by 20% in just last two years (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). The disparity between the prices of healthy and unhealthy food makes people from lower SES families to choose the high calorie food which is inexpensive (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). The studies have revealed that greater proportion of diet of individuals from lower income families consists of lower cost food, which is high in sugar and calorie content (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). Moreover, even the availability of supermarkets makes no difference to the choice of food as the price difference influences the decision of people from lower SES (Doyle, 2010, p. 56). Hence, the lack of resources and access to healthy food, and simultaneous exposure to cheap and unhealthy alternatives through fast-food restaurants and corner markets makes the children from lower SES to get addicted to fast food (Evans, Wells & Schamberg, 2010, p.722). At the same time, lack of physical activity and exercise due to lack of safe place to play and no access to nature or recreational facilities increases the chances of obesity in children from lower SES (Evans, Wells & Schamberg, 2010, p.722). Hence, great amount of calorie intake with no way of burning it increases the risk of obesity in children from lower SES (Evans, Wells & Schamberg, 2010, p.722). Also, even if the family eating habits and home environment is healthy, the fact that children from lower SES are deprived of access to healthy and nutritious food makes them vulnerable to development of obesity and related physical problems. In this way, like adults, even the children in the families from minority ethnic background and lower SES get into habit of consuming fast food and choosing the food that is inexpensive and saves them money. However, they fail to realize that this habit causes great harm in long term as it proves detrimental not only to their physical health but also to their life chances. Consequences of Childhood Obesity People who suffer from obesity in childhood are more prone to become obese in their adulthood (Ulijaszek, 2011, p.470). This means that obese children are more at risk to develop all the associated problems with obesity than children who are not obese. The social stigma, poor educational and professional opportunities, which are the negative correlates of large body size, persist in adulthood and unfortunately, also gets passed to the next generation (Ulijaszek, 2011, p.470). Moreover, in the United States, the upward social mobility is known to get limited by obesity (Ulijaszek, 2011, p.470). The National Longitudinal Survey of Labor Market Experience, Youth Cohort in 1980’s revealed that “both women and men, who had been overweight in late adolescence or early adulthood in 1981, were less likely to have married, and had completed fewer years of education, lower household income, lower self-esteem, and higher rates of poverty 7 years later than those who had not been overweight” (Ulijaszek, 2011, p.470). This shows that obesity affects the social pattern of a person. Hence, preventive measures are essential to avoid development of obesity in children. Preventive Measures The discussion above shows that even if programs for preventing obesity are successful in schools, children tend to fall back to their unhealthy habits during vacation. Hence, the best way to prevent obesity in children is to create awareness about importance of healthy choices and physical activities in prevention of obesity. It is necessary for people in health services to promote obesity preventive measures in positive way as portraying obesity in negative way can discourage children from participating (O’Dea & Eriksen, 2010, p. 36). One of the powerful steps for obesity prevention is increasing physical activity in children. Strauss and Pollack (2003) have observed increase in self-esteem, social interactions and friendships in children suffering from obesity, when they are involved in the physical activity they like. Hence, children should be encouraged to involve in physical activity that they like. Nutrition awareness programs should be conducted for children and adolescents where they are introduced to balanced and holistic approach in choosing healthy food (O’Dea & Eriksen, 2010, p. 37). In this way, awareness and physical activity can help in reducing and preventing obesity in children from lower SES. Conclusion The discussion above shows that children from lower SES are at great risk of developing obesity due to their social disadvantages. Lack of resources to gain access to healthy food and lack of facilities that provide healthy food drives them to choose an unhealthy option of fast food. However, they fail to realize a link of fast food with future problems of obesity, lower performance, social stigmas and reduction in occupational opportunities. Hence, through health awareness programs, families from lower SES should be made aware of the importance of right choice of food, physical exercise and healthy eating behavior, in reducing and preventing obesity in their children. Through nutrition awareness programs, they should be made conscious of the ‘temporary’ nature of advantages of fast food, and should be encouraged to choose healthy food even if it is little costlier than fast food, as it not only improves and maintains the physical health of children, but also makes their future bright and secure by making them gain a body size which is respectable and advantageous in the society. References Bergin, C.C. & Bergin, D.A. (2012). Child and Adolescent Development in your Classroom. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. Cooper, H., Borman, G. & Fairchild, R. (2010). School Calendar and Academic Achievement. In J.L. Meece & J.S. Eccles (Eds.), Handbook of Research on Schools, Schooling, and Human Development (pp. 342-355). 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(2010). Childhood Obesity Prevention: Prevention, International Research, Controversies, and Interventions. Oxford, UK: Oxford UP. Ulijaszek, S.J. (2011) Childhood Obesity as an amplifier of Societal Inequality in the United States, In D. Bagchi (Ed.), Global Perspectives on Childhood Obesity: Current Status, Consequences and Prevention (pp. 463-474). San Diego, CA: Elsevier Academic Press. Read More