Lower-Income Neighborhoods Associated With Higher Obesity Rates
Obesity prevalence has increased significantly among adults and children in the U.S. over the last two decades. A new study appearing in the journal Nutrition Reviews reveals that characteristics of neighborhoods, including the area’s income level, the built environment, and access to healthy food, contribute to the continuing obesity epidemic.
They found that neighborhoods with decreased economic and social resources have higher rates of obesity. They also found that residents in low-income urban areas are more likely to report greater neighborhood barriers to physical activity, such as limited opportunities for daily walking or physical activity and reduced access to stores that sell healthy foods, especially large supermarkets.
In order to organize the different approaches to assessing neighborhood-level determinants of obesity, the authors present a conceptual framework. The framework is intended to guide future inquiry by describing pathways through which neighborhoods might influence body weight.
Consisting of three inter-related layers, the framework includes the influence of social factors, access to quality food and exercise, and individual factors including behavioral intentions. Each level has indirect and direct influences on behavioral choices and may ultimately impact weight.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/02/080207163807.htm
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So we complain about our healthcare costs which are directly related to obesity which is directly related to income, DUH ....
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I can't afford to buy fish, other than canned tuna, because the price per pound puts it out of my financial reach. Current dietary recommendations are for people to eat fish at least 3 times per week.
My income dropped to half of what it was, since 2002. Joining a gym...completely out of my reach. At least I can walk, but swimming, which would be really great for me, is not something I can afford. I can't afford to go hiking anymore: price of gas, and charges for parking at the trail heads ( you have to buy a recreation pass) is not something I can afford, thanks to the drastic drop in my income (which was never huge to begin with).
The closest grocery store has much higher prices than stores which are farther away. With the price of gas rising, I have to calculate very carefully to figure out if saving money at a store where I have to drive a longer distance to get there balances out with the money saved on the grocery bill.
I used to be able to pay for treatment from doctors who I felt gave me much better and more effective health care: acupuncture, Chinese herbs, chiropractic treatment, and naturopathic treatment. I had to pay out of pocket, because my health insurance through my employer wouldn't cover it. Now, with the drastic drop in my take-home pay, I can't afford it. My employer provided health care does offer some natural healing alternatives, but it is very limited, and you have to be referred by your regular physician. I dropped the last physician I had with them because even though she was educated in China, she only seemed interested in regular medicine (drugs, regular kinds of diagnostic test, etc.). 
I HATE THE REPUKES, AND THE GREEDHEAD 1%!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 
