Obesity in kids? -- see poverty line
Solution is lifting people out of the class of poor
- Rahul K. Parikh
Sunday, August 13, 2006
I've discovered the cure for childhood obesity. It's not complicated. It's not even revolutionary. It doesn't involve erudite research or pricey pharmaceuticals. It doesn't involve legislation against fast food chains or soda companies.
The solution is to start paying close attention to one simple fact: Obesity in America is not a medical problem, nor is it caused by some conspiracy between food conglomerates. Obesity in America is a problem rooted in class.
If you want proof of this, look at a recent issue of Journal of the American Medical Association. A study looking at obesity and poverty trends between 1971 and 2004 showed that among adolescents 15 to 17, those most likely to be overweight lived below the poverty line. From 1999 to 2004, a poor adolescent was 50 percent more likely to be overweight than one who was not poor.
Even people living paycheck to paycheck know what food choices are good for them. But if you're a parent in one of the millions of families just scraping by, getting your kids a Happy Meal for dinner is cheap and calorie-laden enough to soothe their hunger pangs. It also leaves one less battle to fight between getting them to finish their schoolwork and getting them ready for bed.
And how does a family struggling financially find time to get their children out to exercise? Even if they have time, it's tough to find a place to take them. A recent study in the journal Pediatrics shows that poor areas offer little access to recreational facilities, a fact the study associated with increased risk of obesity.
Maybe you think it would help to take junk food commercials out of the children's TV hour. Or begin an intense campaign of public service announcements about exercising. Or require that families who get food stamps buy healthful foods. New York City schools are using some sophisticated software to track childhood obesity following their decision to remove whole milk and other fat-promoting beverages from their menu.
These are innovative, passionate ideas. But there is no evidence to support their effectiveness. But there are plenty of studies that clearly link obesity and the almighty dollar.
Look at a study published in the American Journal of Public Health showing that a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is significantly more expensive than one high in sweets and fats. Although the study was done in Europe, there's no reason to believe that the results would be any different here.
The real solution to America's obesity epidemic is lifting people out of poverty. Among other things, that means making sure kids get a good education so they can grow up to earn a decent living. It means creating a culture of responsibility both among the poor and the rich. It means pushing people from welfare to work, but not forgetting to rescind tax policy that allows the wealthiest Americans to hoard money. It means investing tax revenue to promote opportunities for adults and make neighborhoods safe for children to get out and play.
We're too busy hinging our hopes on pharmaceuticals, fad diets, and bariatric surgery. As a doctor, I can't fix this problem, and frankly, I shouldn't be asked to. Beat poverty and we can beat obesity. It's that simple -- or that hard, depending on how you look at it. But it's not impossible.
Dr. Rahul K. Parikh is a pediatrician who practices in Walnut Creek.
Obesity in Kids 
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