Health Blog - Obesity, poverty, and community influence

Norman Marcus, MD - Obesity, poverty, and community influence

Obesity is more prevalent in neighborhoods with high incidence of poverty. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that encouraging families to relocate to higher income neighborhoods could lower the rate of obesity and signs of diabetes. This finding may lead to a better understanding of how we can combat the obesity epidemic.

Visualization is courtesy of TheVisualMD.com

Being surrounded by more neighbors who are not obese and therefore one would assume consume less calories and/or exercise, decreases your chance of becoming obese. This reminds us of the very successful EPODE initiative where entire villages commit to adopting healthier life styles by addressing the importance of diet and exercise as a community. The result is a dramatic reduction in childhood obesity.

Investing in community inspired educational programs should be considered in the US. If successful the cost of such programs could be offset by reducing the escalating cost of health care associated with obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

Norman Marcus, MD

Comments

sheree

2012-05-14

Over the last 20 years, obesity in Australia has double. (Cameron 4, et al 2003) Life style choices of individuals consistent with lack of exercise and the over consumption of high energy dense food, all contribute to this epidemic. Studies found that Australia has one on the highest rate of Type 2 Diabetes in the world. The question is raised of the pressure this will put on the health system in years to come if current trends continue. Cameron (et al2003) also found that the amount of time in front of the television and the time spent participating in physical exercise has a direct connection with obesity. Other contributing factors to the risk of obesity are socioeconomic factors. Age, gender and ethnic back ground also contribute. The study did show however that those with lower educational attainment had a higher risk of obesity across all factors. This suggesting education to the masses may be a key to the reduction of obesity. Cameron A, 2003, ‘Overweight and obesity in Australia: the 1999–2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab)’, The Medical Journal of Australia, 178 (9): 427-432, date retrieved 14th May, 2012, https://www.mja.com.au/journal/2003/178/9/overweight-and-obesity-australia-1999-2000-australian-diabetes-obesity-and

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