Obesity and Social Inequality in America

Abstract

In the United States food has become a weapon for social control. Hunger and conversely obesity have contributed to the subjugation of underserved populations and served to perpetuate social inequality. This research provides an analysis of the literature on factors that influence obesity rates, however the question of why these factors play a significant role probes deeper into the political and social structures that lend themselves to such inequities. Obesity rates have historically been higher in Southern states, leading to a consideration of historical food preparation and consumption practices and the intergenerational transmission of food culture. This study uses ordinary least squares regression and data from the Centers for Disease Control, and Prevention (CDC), the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the U.S. Census to examine the factors that influence state level obesity rates. The results indicate a significant positive correlation between Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) assistance and the obesity rate. Lack of physical activity and the percentage of African American residents are also significantly correlated with the level of obesity. In contrast healthy food outlets within a half-mile of the residence appear to be associated with lower levels of obesity.

Perceptions of Obese African American Women Regarding Altering Traditional Soul Food Preparation

“…The participants regarded these events as family values to pass down from generation to generation. This is in line with the research from Broady and Meeks (2015) and Thompson (2015), which concluded that AA women pass down soul food recipes from generation to generation, which AA women prepare and consume regardless of Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences 91 socioeconomic status. For many of the participants, consuming soul food was only one part of the experience of family values; being together once or twice a year and family members sharing their recipes was part of the occasion.…”

“…The results of the present study also confirm research conducted by Jurkowski et al (2014) and Lee and Lein (2015) that an environmental factor that hinders AA women from eating healthy is the lack of healthy foods within AA communities, as well as the cost of healthy foods. It was noted in the research that AA communities are more prone to having fewer grocery stores that provide a wide variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, fresh fish and other seafood, and low-fat dairy products, and if healthier alternatives are available, they are considerably higher in cost and lower in quality (Bower et al, 2015;Broady & Meeks, 2015;Cozier et al, 2014;Nederkoorn, 2014).…”

Understanding the complexity of biopsychosocial factors in the public health epidemic of overweight and obesity

“…“… overweight and obesity is not just a health issue, it is about social justice, because the least well off suffer significantly higher rates of obesity,” p. 2). Indeed, factors that confer risk for stress and social inequality, such as racial and ethnic minority group membership and lower socioeconomic status (SES), are associated with increased obesity risk (Broady and Meeks, 2015; Sobal and Stunkard, 1989). Worldwide, both obesity and under-nutrition are common among those struggling with socioeconomic burden, creating a “double burden of disease” and increased mortality risk for some communities and households (World Health Organization, 2015).…”

Why African American Economists Should Abandon Mainstream Economic Theory ASAP

“…Consequently, poor children are particularly vulnerable to junk food advertisements, for instance, and so become overweight, or computer game advertisements at the detriment of doing homework (Broady & Meeks, 2015). Thus, the prevalence of obesity among Black and Hispanic children and youth is 22% and 26%, respectively, while among their White counterparts, it is 14%; this is a symptom of the tragic impact of poverty on minorities (Hales, Carroll, Fryar, & Cynthia, 2017).…”

“…They are not good at alleviating hunger and other forms of deprivation. Without government safety-net programs that provide Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and unemployment benefits, the poor would be squeezed to the breaking point (Arrow, 1963; Broady & Meeks, 2015; Deaton, 2008). Without nutritional assistance programs, malnutrition and undernutrition would be rampant (Davis, 1994).…”