Demographics and Obesity

Hi guys, I hope your weekend is going well. I'm at the college all weekend for Fall Weekend - the parents are swarming with their kids and everyone is having a great time. Connecticut College is a highly selective liberal arts college and the tuition is very high - upwards of nearly $50,000 a year to attend. There is some financial aid relief but by and large, these students come from very well off and prestigeous families. My daughter applied here and did not get accepted. The college's loss as far as I'm concerned! At any rate, I've really taken notice of the physicalities of these folks - both of the students and of their parents. I'd say the typical physical profile is white, middle-aged, small to medium height and weight; the women lean to petitie, the men lean towards the smaller but very fit, healthy frame. These folks are healthy and wealthy - or very health and wealth conscious. There is an obvious intellectual connection and respect between parents and child/children; and frankly speaking, I just don't see any overweight people here! Nadda! Now I typically head to Super Walmart at least once a week after work to do my bulk shopping - and I have to dodge carts overloaded by extremely overweight people - mostly minorities, especially Hispanic - lots of kids in tow who are also extremely overweight already, even the very young ones. These folks are, compared to the Connecticut College demographic I just described - very poor. A large percentage of them are on food stamps and other government assistance. And they are obese. The rich are thin. The poor are fat. Does it simply boil down to this? I know this is a very sensitive issue (and believe me I have my own cross to bear working here - but I need a job!) - talk to me. What do you think??? Ok, I'm getting out of here because I've had enough candy today to build Santa's Castle. M.

being in the lower end of the $$ spectrum for years and years---pasta is cheap................potatoes are cheap.. mac and cheese-blue box or velveeta is cheap.....beans are cheap.........you do the math!

fitness clubs and high protein foods are not so cheap.......


having cashiered for many many years; i have seen far too many carts filled with chips and pop and crapola that is available on food stamps...DONOT get me started on this one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! soap should be allowed on stamps!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes; this is a very sore spot for me reenie so i won't say any more.....

AMEN MARGO!!!!! 

Sooo much cheaper to eat unhealthy!!! Has anyone seen how much produce has gone up??? and tofu and the healthy stuff???? FRUIT???  FORGET ABOUT IT!!! Unless you can grow your own??? peh... too expensive!!!  When the gas skyrocketed so did produce and groceries overall... for tranportation expenses/gas etc... anywho....  if you go the money... and you have the right sort of upbringing... uh... yeah... definitely more apt to follow a healthier ,ifestyle. its just a whole different spectrum. We weren't poor but middle class. My house was also not very organized. I struggle with it now. Not the healthiest choices... what we could afford was what we ate. My mom is from the south... etc.. i could go on and on... habits are hard to break. .. habits... addictions... however you would like to label it all... 

carrots are not soo high though. rofl... BUT ITS A GOOD SNACK. :)  ONE I WILL BE EATING TOMORROW!!!

I wish I had more time this morning to really explore this, but I'm getting ready for work and trying to type with one hand.  I completely agree with what Margo said about food.  Additionally, with value menus at fast food places, it's cheaper to feed your family through the drive through than it is to cook at home.  Around here, you can buy 2 tacos for a buck, but a Lean Cuisine, even on sale, will cost 2 dollars. 

How many of us have been passed over for a new job or promotion because of weight?  I know I have.  I actually had a boss tell me that because I was fat, it was hard for me to look good.  Mind you, this was said with deep concern and sincerity and he really thought he was being sympathetic.  Obesity is the last bastion of acceptable prejudice.  Ironically, the majority of the country is overweight, but we still worship a size zero.  I think there is a cycle of bias, poverty and genetics at work here. 

I believe it's a lot more complicated than this. Believe me, I come from a very poor upbringing - no shoes in the winter poor, nearly taken away by social services because of neglect poor. I still shop with coupons because that mindset will never leave me - and because it makes sense to me. And because despite both of us having decent jobs, we still live paycheck to paycheck to pay our bills - and we've NEVER lived on plastic, never. But I have to push back on this. A 3 lb. bag of macintosh apples is less expensive than a bag of Doritos or Lays potato chips, yet I see the junk food in the carts, not the apples. A fresh cantaloupe is less expensive than a package of name brand cookies, yet I see the Oreos in the carts, not the mellon. Now, I absolutely agree about the fast food options being cheaper to feed a family than other restaurant options. But again, some of this really does come down to what we are chosing to do, does it not? Just like anything else, it's got to start with understanding and education so that we can be more powerful in making better informed choices about our health, and God, the heath of our children! I recently went to Wally World to do my weekly shopping and I pulled into the lot, and in the space next to me, there was a little girl about 2 years old, sandwiched inbetween a young guy (maybe 19 or 20) and a woman (maybe 40), his mother, her grandmother? They were both smoking in the back seat on either side of that baby and the windows were all shut tight. The little girl was not even in a car seat, and sucking down the cigarette smoke of both those people. I don't get it. I don't get it. Someone help me out here. M.

thats terrible about that little girl. People are just plain nuts!!!! honestly! I don't understand it and never will. 

3lb bag of apples less than doritos??? not here. the apples are more. The cantelope a little less but not by much unfortunately. I spent a fortune on fruit not too long ago... i mean ALOT of money it was sooooooo overpriced. I haven't shopped lately though since the gas prices went down. I'm hoping the prices dropped a bit on produce. its all about good food choices. Its true though... if we want to eat healthier you really do have to put out a little bit more money, but its well worth the benefits. carrots are still a good price! :)  and get some peanut butter... the natural kind without sugar added (THAT is more expensive) but will last and is worth it. and get some celery sticks which is a little on the higher side but still worth it. .. i'm trying hard today!!!  I'm going to have some soup NO CARBS!! lol... and my protein drink later whenever i get hungry. I FORGOT MY CARROTSS!!! AAAHH! i'm going to be hungry. OH! thats right... i have my protein bar.  whew! 

unfortunately that lil girl could have been my granddaughter- her parents are like that...

and around here fruit and fresh veggies etc--$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

reenie- you hit the nail on the head----education....

and it has to start at home not just in teh schools- mine starte din brownie Girl Scouts in 196something...as well as at home--but not all of us have that option...

also- the oreos are filling and yummy- sorry!!! some tings are just pure laziness some are lack of education .....but this forum isn't the answer to educating america.... we aren't the ones who need it.......sorry to be so honest!!!