Theory Linking Poor Kids, Obesity Refuted

Study Discounts Lack Of Food As Reason Poor U.S. Children Are More Likely To Be Overweight

(AP)  New research discounts a common theory on why poor U.S. children are more likely to be overweight than children from wealthier families.

Iowa State University researchers say their analysis shows that a lack of food is not necessarily to blame, although they are not sure why so many children from low-income families are overweight.

Previous research has suggested that poor children were not getting nutritious food and instead ate junk food, such as hot dogs. Or that children may have eaten well when money was available, but would skip meals when cash was short, a cycle that could slow their metabolism and cause them to gain weight.

By challenging those theories, the researchers hope to encourage more research into the issue. Some studies show that nearly one third of American children ages 10-17 are overweight or obese, and that nearly 40 percent of those kids are from low-income households.

Brenda Lohman, a co-author of the study, said the high number of overweight low-income kids is a public health concern.

"Understanding why the rates are so high .... is needed," she said.

Their findings are reported in February's issue of the Journal of Nutrition.

Donna Matheson, of Stanford Medical School's Prevention Research Center, said the study explores some new elements, but disregards others. She noted that the research only looked at children with weight problems, not those who were underweight.

For the study, the researchers analyzed 1999 data about 1,031 children living in low-income households in Boston, Chicago and San Antonio. They assessed whether the children had enough food for a healthy, active lifestyle, which is called food security by researchers. They looked at the individual child, instead of their entire household as previous studies had done.

The researchers asked the children's mothers whether she had reduced the size of a meal due to lack of food or money, if her child skipped a meal because food was not available and if her child went hungry because she could not afford more food.

They found that about half of the children in the study were overweight or obese, while only about 8 percent were not getting enough to eat.

Craig Gundersen, lead author of the study, said children who did not get enough food were not more likely to be overweight, even though the two factors often coexisted in the low-income population they studied.

He said the study shows that if the government tries to expand food assistance programs to help children, officials can move forward without worrying about an increase in overweight kids living in poverty.

However, Matheson said she thinks much more research is needed before changes in policy are implemented.

"I don't think we are there yet in terms of saying what really works," she said.

Susan Stewart, an Iowa State sociology professor who was involved in the research, said in a statement that most of the research on childhood obesity comes from the medical community, but there should be a closer look at the family and how factors such as stress affect a child's weight.

"Family life has a lot to do with children's lives, particularly when it comes to overeating and obesity," she said.

[drivelphobe]

This research is a waste of time. Obesity comes from overeating. Who cares if obesity hits the low-income families too? They can eat like pigs can''t they?

Cut down on all the food and live like a normal human being. It''s really simple. The problem is that fat people really don''t care if they''re fat. If the did, they wouldn''t be fat.

[three-o-six]

I wonder if it might be a lack of parenting - the kids eat what they want when they want?

[justsane-2009]

drivel--i understand that you have issues with obesity, particularly in your own family. however, your simplistic, and frankly cruel attitude is both unhelpful and flat out wrong. i don''t know a single overweight person that "wants" to be fat. to be fat in our society is to be a social pariah (witness your comments.) there are overweight people who have all sorts of issues that prevent them from losing weight-and yes, that includes for some of them, not wanting to do the hard work required to lose it. however, the issue being addressed in this article is obesity in children. surely you can''t believe that young children "choose" to be fat. as a elementary teacher, i see the effects of obesity on children--trust me, these kids would far rather be able to participate in games at recess and pe, rather be able to wear the cool clothes that the skinnier kids can, and certainly rather not suffer the social ostracism that comes with excess weight.

the headline on this article is extremely misleading-the study only dealt with whether or not lack of food could be linked to obesity. having worked in both schools where the families were extremely poor, and where the families were solidly midle-class, i would have to say that childhood obesity and poverty are very closely linked. this particular study did not address the broader issue at all...

[runningralph]

Dogs descended from wolves and became inferior specimens physically and mentally when they became dependant on humans for their livelihood. Dependency over generations will cause all sorts of misfits to thrive and multiply. Latter generations will be inferior to earlier generations that had to make wise decisions to survive. As long as taxpayers keep feeding them they will get worse and worse.

[otdky07]

It''s all about caloric intake and exercise. Look at the success of surgery. Why does surgery work? BECAUSE THEY CONSUME LESS CALORIES!!!!! When does it fail? WHen they pound soda and milkshakes like their lives depended on it. Only 2% of obesity is a true gland problem. So the other 98%, watch what the f%$k you eat! It''s portion control. It doesn''t take much to reach 1800 calories. Most people scarf this down in one meal!!!!!!!

To: drivelphobe
Well, good luck to you also with your drinking problem. That''''s the only thing I can think of that would damage as many brain cells as you obviously have. You are pitiful. I really feel sorry for you. Go ahead....waste your pitiful life making fun of others. Why don''''t you try getting a job that would help people instead of sitting around all day making stupid comments on every site you can find.

[grammawhamma]

Low income families buy the foods that will stretch their food budget the furthest. Pasta and hamburger dishes and dried beans and potatoes. Obese kids usually have obese parents.

[cd_r1]

I always enjoy it when supposedly educated researchers say things like, "children who did not get enough food were not more likely to be overweight," as if this were some kind of controversial finding. The first thing I wondered when I saw that is, "Are these people f^#@!ng retarded?"

[nikujaga2231]

What do you get when you add depressed, obese, overworked parents with kids? You get depressed neglected obese kids (not neglected by choice but by necessity). Poor parents choose foods out of necessity: whatever is fast and filling. Fast is choosen to save time; not exactly many healthy choices. Filling because it feels good to be full. Eating is a simple highly accessible pleasure activity. If life does not allow the luxury of a dream, to feel good for one moment, piling on a greasy meal will do the trick. Add to that, limited access to activities and other resources and you get depressed, neglected, obese kids who lack exercise. You cannot look at this problem in a vacuum. I would speculate that these problems are trans-generational and multi-demensional and part of a vicious circle. To look at them otherwise would be to bury ones head in the sand. Sadly, the feasibility of solutions often dictates the course of research rather than the truth however difficult it may be to hear and however much it would cost.

[gce65]

This study was obviously confused with the one directly linking fatheads and the White House.

Speaking of trimming fat...why no mention of Bob Wexler''s (D-FL) website gathering online petition signatures to start impeachment hearings against Cheney? Not worth a mention?

Look at: WEXLER WANTS HEARINGS DOT COM.

[b-easy63]

This is not rocket science, Children eat what there care givers give them and it is determined by their upbringing and lifestyle. If you find a fat child who is taken care of by a mom or grandmom, chances are high that the mom is overweight or fat also. If the "nanny" or day care provider is overweight, there is a good chance the kids will be fed similar diets.

People rarely encourage a style of eating they are not accustomed to. So if you have a caregiver who eats lots of fat, pork and beans and starches, then it is likely the child will also.

If you ever see a really overweight child under 12, then look at his parents, they often are not only obese, since size is relative, they often are in denial about what their lifestyle and diet are doing to their kids. I had a really fat friend growing up--her mom would bring her 2 dozen doughnuts to eat, then blast her with how much of a pig she was after she was done--then she''d bring her more junk to say she was sorry. The mom was fat also.

[b-easy63]

i would have to say that childhood obesity and poverty are very closely linked. this particular study did not address the broader issue at all...

Posted by justsane at 07:43 PM : Jan 21, 2008


I agree--in poor countries, the cheapest food and the most filling are grains, breads and starches like corn and rice and potatoes. If you want to fatten a cow or pig--you fill them full of carbs and starches--same thing with humans--fill them full of charges. Given the high cost of meat, the poor often go for getting a full tummy, not with what is nutritious, after all, if there is not a lot of money, people tend to load up on what is most filling and satisfying. That is refined/processed starch and carbs and fat. We should note that there are plenty of fat, rich people now. Cheney is not skinny, nor is Michael Moore or Elizabeth Taylor or Kirstie Allen or Al Sharpton...it is a lifetime of eating to fill and learning to live to eat instead of eating to live.

[b-easy63]

Dogs descended from wolves and became inferior specimens physically and mentally when they became dependant on humans for their livelihood. Dependency over generations will cause all sorts of misfits to thrive and multiply. Latter generations will be inferior to earlier generations that had to make wise decisions to survive. As long as taxpayers keep feeding them they will get worse and worse.

Posted by runningralph at 08:21 PM : Jan 21, 2008


Actually, obese people would fare the best in times of starvation or great cold. There is a book out called "The heart of the sea" in it, the most fit who were adrift at sea, succumbed to starvation first because they did not have enough body fat to survive the rigors of less food and cold. Obese people are actually genetically superior to survive in times of starvation--the cruel irony is that what for thousands of years was their strong point, is, in a time of plenty, to their detriment.

If we have another dust bowl or famine though--they will survive and those who lambast or castigate them and are skinny, will be some of the first to die. This is a physiological fact.

[b-easy63]

CORRECTION:

same thing with humans--fill them full of STARCHES. Given the high cost of meat, the poor often go for getting a full tummy, not with what is nutritious, after all, if there is not a lot of money, people tend to load up on what is most filling and satisfying. That is refined/processed starch and carbs and fat. We should note that there are plenty of fat, rich people now. Cheney is not skinny, nor is Michael Moore or Elizabeth Taylor or Kirstie Allen or Al Sharpton...it is a lifetime of eating to fill and learning to live to eat instead of eating to live.

Posted by b-easy63 at 11:55 PM : Jan 21, 2008

[guest173]

the overweight people I''ve known don''t get enough exercise, and they sleep and watch tv way too much. Then they tell their kids "no, no, no" whenever the kids asked to do things like go to the park. One overweight mom was shocked seeing me pull the kids around in a wagon, she thought that was just way too much work. I feel sorry for her kids.

[usa3world]

Nutritious foods are the most expensive, so low income families are going to buy the food that is cheaper and that is junk fattening food!!

[drivelphobe]

justsane...

I do tend to get riled up over obesity and you are correct from my past posts that I deal with it in my family. I fully understand the severe problems and emotional distress young children experience. I''m certain that at the early ages, many of them cry themselves to sleep. The problem is tragic and yet it is the parents'' fault. The parents are usually overweight themselves and the cycle perpetuates itself.

I personally witness the complete lack of self control, lack of pride in self, lack of discipline and constant excuse making for constant gorging and eating unhealthy foods. The family members I am in contact with have been advised by their physicians that they will die if they don''t lose weight and get some exercise. They scoff at this and continue to pile on the weight. I am thoroughly fed up with the bunch. Before I became so disgusted with them, I provided a great deal of assistance and support with the best intentions. It finally became evident that none of them cared enough to take the necessary actions to lose weight.

My opinions aren''t meant to be mean or unhelpful as justsane asserts, they are my true feelings after years of living around these people, watching their habits and uncontrolled consumption. I feel sorry for the children, but they are the products of their parents.

Perhaps I am too hard on these people, but I know many people who are in a fit condition and it is very easy to do if you care about yourself and your family.

[drivelphobe]

justsane..

I meant asserted by andersonk49, not you. Sorry.

Drivel

Have a nice day tomorrow.

[drivelphobe]

andersonk49

You just can''t help yourself. Now you accuse me of not working, sitting around all day and drinking? You poor sap. Your anger and frustration levels suggest to me that you might be larger than I had previously thought. I''m guessing in the 500-600 pound range?

I forgive you no matter how badly you treat other people.

Have a nice day tomorrow.

Drivel

[drivelphobe]

Is there a correlation between obesity and IQ?

[rudy654-2009]

"Iowa State University researchers say their analysis shows that a lack of food is not necessarily to blame, although they are not sure why so many children from low-income families are overweight."

Sometimes I wonder how people get through college. It isn''t about the lack of food, because there is plenty of krap out there to eat. It is about what has been put into that krap that has made it so lethal for children. Trans fat (oil that has carbon added to it): Yeah, that krap. Makes bread, crackers, cookies, donuts, etc (Hello McDonald''s) last longer on the shelf and taste just as good even if it''s one hundred years old. Problem is the body doesn''t know what to do with that krap and just stores it. Next: high fructose corn syrup. Another one of those ingredients that replaced just good old natural sugar. No, everyone discovered how wonderful this krap was for selling their product. Problem is the body doesn''t know what to do with it, so converts it into fat and stores it as well. Yet, this study couldn''t get down to the reality.

[blanc_refuse]

As a stupid poor person I can''t afford to fill my children''s bellies with expensive chicken breasts, fresh fruits and fresh vegetables chocked full of nutrients.

We stupid poor people are financially confined to what we can afford which means we eat a lot of cheap bread, pork and beans, spaghetti, tuna helper, hamburger helper, raimen noodles and drink a lot of kool-aid (we can''t afford soda pop).

I''m sorry you''re all so offended.

[tulcak]

if you are not poor and you can eat whatever you want, then, shut up, because you have no idea how it feels

[flreason]

I worked for Head Start at one point, and one of the things I noticed was that most of the kids drank soft drinks with their meals at home. A lot of the kids had weight problems. We also saw kids with kidney problems at five because they had nothing but soft drinks at home. It seemed to me that these sodas with high fructose corn syrup were a huge contributor to the weight problem.

To: drivelphobe

Bullseye! Nailed your problem didn''t I? You''re just amazing. You have said some very nasty things about overweight people on this site, then you have the nerve to try to chastise me for calling you out. Then you try to post some silly comments about how and why you only meant to help your family and others. Your disdain towards overweight people is ugly and hurtful. Fat is only on the outside. Mean and nasty go all the way to the bone. Why don''t you go stick an oreo in your mouth and maybe it will calm the bitterness in your soul for five minutes.

[krenz4]

Really, does it take a rocket scientist to figure out the nutritious foods cost more money than junky foods? Poor folks have to strech their dollars and will do that by buying more filling things with high sugar and fat contents.Voila! THEY GET FAT! I wonder how many millions of dollars were spent on that study to find THAT out? SHEEESH!

[drivelphobe]

andersonk49..

You have nothing of value to post. Goodbye!

[cantshutup]

I WISH I COULD AFFORD TO GO BUY A DA MN APPLE!!!!!!!! F U K U BUSH!!!

[easeup-2009]

Duh, the less educated you are the more likely you''ll be hitting Burger King every day. Need proof? Go to your local WalMart & count the jelly rolls walking by.

[rudy654-2009]

Posted by blanc_refuse at 03:40 AM

You make an excellent point with being economically confined to buying what you can. You mentioned top ramen noodles. Next time check and see just how much trans fat is in that product. Personally I think it should be banned from the shelves. Corporate America has sold our health down the road.

[skinnyminny2]

People complain that vegetables cost so much and our local food pantries can''t give the stuff away. Fresh greens, broccoli...no one wants the stuff. And it''s free! It''s right there for people and if they don''t want it--for free--then it''s their own fault they''re fat. They won''t even accept FREE healthy food.