http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/20/earlyshow/health/main4619978.shtml
Two-Thirds of Americans are already considered to be overweight. But as the economy continues to rollercoaster, dieticians anticipate an increase in this number. The reasons? Finances and emotional eating. Prices at the grocery store have risen, and healthier foods are even more expensive. Who's gunna spend $10 on produce to make a few salads when you can buy Celeste frozen pizzas for a dollar each? What some people get for three salads, others get ten. Who cares about the nutritional benefits? "For instance, McDonald's recently reported strong third quarter sales, but nutrition experts worry more consumption of fast food in general may lead to more weight gain and resulting health problems." This is also going to be a financial burden on the economy. The increase in the need for medical attention is going to strain hospitals, medicare, medicaid, let alone the economy. Stress eating is only going to cripple our already disabled economy. Another factor: people have begun to transfer their feelings into food. The more stress, the more emotional eating. People are leaning on food for emotional comfort. Just the depressing news can trigger emotional eating. Many people can't distinguish the relationship between their friends Ben and Jerry and their increasing waistline. The saddest part: everyone blames the stress from the economy.
So what is our society to do? We have no personal responsibily and blame our issues on the government. Many of us are not self-efficient enough either to take care of our health. We'd rather deal with the consequences later. But is this obesity epidemic going to stiffle our economy for the next fifty years because of health care demands? We need to address the issue now and fix it quickly.
4 comments:
I have heard about this a lot lately, and I agree. It is a big problem that will probably get worse. My brother goes to Taco Bell all the time now because he can afford it. Produce is expensive. But vegetables in a can are still pretty cheap, and cooking at home with them is way better for you than eating fast food. I think it's sad that the fast food industry is benefitting from this.
This is a big problem and it is going to get worse, becuase its a lot easier to go to the dolar menu and get lots of food then it is to spend fifty dollars at the grocery store and get very little food. I am a statistic in this report becuase me and my roommates go to fast food all the time becuase its cheaper then going to the grocery store and buying weeks worth of food. Theres not much you can do about it because healthy food is too expensive. Good blog, good information.
this is very true that cheap food is junk food. It sucks, but when someone can't afford the real thing, there's really nothing lese they can do about it. Not to mension how good all the cheap stuff is!! an easy way to eat better and cheaper is fruit! that's what i do atleast.
This issue is just a viscious cycle that may never have an end. I can actually relate to it; I've always eaten pretty healthy up until this year. I usually used to shop only in the organic section because eating right was, and still is important to me. However, being a college student, I try to find the happy medium: not expensive and pretty healthy. Although I'd like to shop all organic one day, I can't do it right now and with the awful status of the economy, people are more likely to take the easier route even though its the worse one.
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