GPP105: Hunger and Obesity Go Hand in Hand?

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Hunger and Obesity Go Hand in Hand?

Antonina Entler

4-10-13

When most people think about hunger in the world the last place they imagine it existing is in the United States. Yet it is true that the fattest country in the world has 50 million food insecure residents. The other day I came across an article in the NY Times called “The South Bronx, Plagued by Obesity, Tops a Hunger Survey” which addresses this issue. The article details how the South Bronx, one of the country’s “capitals of obesity,” boasts some of the highest levels of food insecurity in the nation (37% compared to the national average of 18.5%). It goes on to explain how a lack of healthy food options, in a city dominated by small corner stores and fast food chains, contributes to its high levels of obesity. It also shows how those who are the most obese are often the poorest because they are often forced to buy the cheapest food available (which is usually the least nutritious) and to eat on-the-go due to working multiple jobs and long hours. While the authors of this article make a very valid point about the necessity for local and state government to encourage and subsidize groceries stores and restaurants with healthy options, I would like to take the argument a step further to the national level.

While researching for literature review, I came across an article called “The Fat of the Land: Do Agricultural Subsidies Foster Poor Health?,” which described how agricultural subsides, which are intended to stabilize crop prices, encourage employment, and provide an affordable supply of food have repercussions on the health of the nation, especially on low-income citizens. The reality is that the most subsidized crops—soybeans, wheat, and corn—oblige farmers to overlook healthier crops like fruits and vegetables, making high-fat, high-sugar foods cheaper and fruits and vegetables more expensive in contrast. Often, low-income families have little choice but to choose the unhealthy, subsidized products and to eat at fast-food chains, which also serve many of these subsidized products. It seems that this national policy is only exacerbating the issue of obesity connected with poverty. Since many low-income citizens are on Medi-caid, it seems almost counterintuitive that we are subsidizing unhealthy products that will cost us more money in public health assistance in the long run. Shouldn’t the government be subsidizing fruits and vegetables? Regardless of what we should be doing the truth is that agricultural industry, dominated mostly by a few large industrial growers, has such effective financial and lobbying campaigns in Washington that to even try to change agricultural subsidies seems near impossible.