Poverty And Obesity: A New Study Finds A Remarkable Connection

While the rich and the affluent still face many of the problems that come with the "king's lifestyle", a new pattern is emerging in the United States and, predictions state, Europe.

A new study shows that the trend of ill-health and obesity is shifting rapidly to the poor and less educated portions of the country.

The reason this is important to us all, other than a concern for our nation's health as a whole, is the economic strain this will place on our already burdened health care system.

By the year 2012, if this trend increases, the middle and upper classes will be looking at massive increases in taxes to fund proposed government plans to address the problem.

This is a problem that flat-out does NOT need to exist. Everyone who can afford food at 'all' can easily eat healthy and exercise.

Part of the confusion is due to the fact that the billion dollar fitness industry has created a myth -- that expensive food supplements and organic foods are mandatory for good health.

While I believe in both, neither are mandatory.

It's the TYPE of food, and the COMBINATION of the foods that make all the difference -- that, and moderate calories, exercise, and proper mental disposition.

I recently read an excellent e-book by Jon Benson and Tom Venuto, CSCS called Fit Over 40, which discusses these points in great detail. I highly recommend it, and I believe you can find it at www.fitover40.com

In regards to the study however, Dr. Janet Collins of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had this to say --

"Populations are no longer equal in terms of experiencing health problems. Low-income populations tend to experience all the health problems we worry about at greater rates."

The five states with the highest obesity rates in the 2005 consensus include Mississippi,

Alabama, West Virginia, Louisiana and Kentucky.

These same five states have higher rates of poverty than the national norm.

Meanwhile, the five states with the lowest obesity have less poverty. They are Colorado, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Each of these states also have more college graduates and stronger education programs.

Education in health and fitness does not need to be expensive, and it certainly does not take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

However, many fitness professionals and nutrition 'gurus' lend that impression.

If you visit a gym today, especially in a larger city, you'll see a myriad of devices that, frankly, would give you a better workout if you tried to pick them up and move them out to the garbage dump.

It can be daunting and confusing for anyone! But, this doesn't have to be the case. In fact, the fitness needs of most people can be satisfied just by doing a workout in the comfort of their own home.

The same goes for nutrition. While a few people require "high-tech", expensive foods (for medical reasons usually), the vast majority of us can easily get the job done at the local grocery store.

The best way to inspire change is to create change in yourself. Start there, set the example, and the word will spread.

Anyone can be fit and healthy, and they can do it at ANY age, and at ANY income level above absolute poverty.

Yours in health,

Jamin Thompson

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