Sugar, not fat, exposed as deadly villain in obesity epidemic

[Javaman]

55. simpler than that: nutrition.

A person can be grossly over weight and still die of malnutrition.

The reason why, generally speaking, obesity strikes the poor is two reasons, cheap food and the concept of food deserts.

cheap food is high in calories very very low on nutrition.

food deserts are just that low income impoverished areas of the nation are bereft of healthier choices when it comes to food. the miles needed to travel to a supermarket for fresh vegetables and fruits are almost insurmountable due to the price of gas, lack of public transportation price of getting that produce.

Many markets will not put stores into what they consider "high crime" areas for fear of robbery or stolen goods.

Oddly, an experiment was done 2 years ago in Brooklyn, NY in one of the poorest, highest crime areas: Bed Sty. A fruit and vegetable seller set up a stand to see if he could sell any of his produce. It was stocked with all kinds of stuff. He hoped at best to break even. The result, he was sold out in under an hour.

People want food. they want fresh food. But if you don't have any choice or way to get to it, you don't.

my personal conspiracy theory is: the crap food sellers maintain a lock on those areas as their own gold mines to sell their garbage. Sort of their "bread and butter" market. Making sure that any market of any size selling real food is kept out.

The urban gardening movement is making some inroads, but face an uphill climb against various real estate agencies who prevent vacant lots from being used for gardens.

A classic example of this was the now famous garden war in East L.A. that was made into a documentary featuring Darryl Hannah. The plot of land had been vacant for years and so the surrounding community decided to use it for a community garden. They did this for a number of years without issue. Suddenly the owner drops from the sky and demands his land back. Lawsuits ensued and the people lost. What happened to the land after the garden was cleared out? Nothing. It still stands empty to this day now with a chain-link fence around it.