Most Obese States

[FriendlySpartan]

I need some information to determine what classifies as a "food desert." As in something quantifiable.

How many blocks does a person need to travel to get to a place with reasonable food, or to a bus stop that will get them close to one?

For urban it’s over a mile away, for rural it’s 10miles away. There are some other factors that go into it as well but that’s the distance you were looking for. I think around 20 million people are considered to be in a food desert so certainly it doesn’t explain the obesity epidemic.

You are also correct on the big gulp analogy, however from talking with thousands of patients many people have no idea just how bad it is until it’s a problem. The way people cook also is something that many don’t have an understanding of. Their are societal and cultural issues as well in many cases. The food/reward cycle is hard to break.

 

[AuH2O]

For urban it’s over a mile away, for rural it’s 10miles away. There are some other factors that go into it as well but that’s the distance you were looking for. I think around 20 million people are considered to be in a food desert so certainly it doesn’t explain the obesity epidemic.

You are also correct on the big gulp analogy, however from talking with thousands of patients many people have no idea just how bad it is until it’s a problem. The way people cook also is something that many don’t have an understanding of. Their are societal and cultural issues as well in many cases. The food/reward cycle is hard to break.

In terms of solutions, I like to guess what would happen if there was a government program that helped support small town and neighborhood grocery stores. Short of making the good food damn near free, I think it would have little impact. You think if there was a food desert that now had a small grocery store there's going to be a large percentage of obese and overweight people that change habits to the point that they are significantly more healthy? I do not. I think it would help a few people significantly, some people incrementally, but most would walk past it to go somewhere else and get a donut. And I think nearly all of those people will do so fully knowing that it's bad for them.

Now I'll agree as far as education goes, the EXTENT to which some of this food is bad for you is an opportunity. It does not help that there are idiots everywhere that confuse pointing out the obvious basic fact that being overweight is bad for you as being a personal attack.

 

[besserheimerphat]

Cooking is an issue. The fact that you can buy fast/packaged food and eat it anywhere immediately is a big "advantage" over having to cook fresh/healthy food.

Fruits and veggies can be eaten with no prep, but they have a limited shelf life so they cost more for a store to keep in stock. Somebody mentioned a Kwik Star bag of carrots vs a bag of chips. Well when you buy a bag of Doritos, they're all the same and the store can keep them on the shelf for months. The carrots have to be refrigerated, and they start to either get slimy or dry out after a few days. So you need to inspect them before buying, or run the risk of spending money on "bad" carrots. None of that is insurmountable, but it's multiple small barriers that have to be overcome to make the healthy choice.

Just about any protein has to be cooked to be safe to eat. You can't buy a healthy chicken breast and just eat it. You can buy them cooked, but most precooked chicken is dry because it's overdone for safety/liability or it's cooked in a way which makes it less healthy (breaded and deep fried, tons of sodium added, etc). So it either isn't that healthy or tastes bad.

Eating well isn't "hard" but it takes a lot of education and hand holding until it's internalized and habits are changed. You can't just tell someone to Google it and figure it out. They won't. People don't work that way. It's not a moral failing on their part, it's a result of psychology, upbringing and current environment.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

In terms of solutions, I like to guess what would happen if there was a government program that helped support small town and neighborhood grocery stores. Short of making the good food damn near free, I think it would have little impact. You think if there was a food desert that now had a small grocery store there's going to be a large percentage of obese and overweight people that change habits to the point that they are significantly more healthy? I do not. I think it would help a few people significantly, some people incrementally, but most would walk past it to go somewhere else and get a donut. And I think nearly all of those people will do so fully knowing that it's bad for them.

Now I'll agree as far as education goes, the EXTENT to which some of this food is bad for you is an opportunity. It does not help that there are idiots everywhere that confuse pointing out the obvious basic fact that being overweight is bad for you as being a personal attack.

A thing to consider is that most of these food deserts are in very poor areas. In a lot of these areas fresh healthy food simply isn’t readily available. There is also the issue of storage. A fridge to store groceries costs money, electricity for the fridge costs money. Traveling by public transit if even available costs time and money. Finally poor people usually have enough issues that spending money or time on eating healthy just isn’t going to be a high priority with everything else they have to deal with. Even in areas that have amazing programs many do not know about them and even more don’t want to take a handout.

 

[besserheimerphat]

Finally poor people usually have enough issues that spending money or time on eating healthy just isn’t going to be a high priority with everything else they have to deal with.

This is the answer to a LOT of questions about "why don't the poor just do X?" Because the mental/emotional stress of living as a poor person makes simple decisions hard, and as a self-preservation technique they choose what is easiest in the short term. This has been proven time and time again in many different domains.

ETA: and before people chime in - no, living on a self-imposed budget is not the same as being poor. The fact that you may live on a tight budget means you still have something to fall back on when needed. Poor people don't have that cushion. So yeah you might be able to live on $15k a year with a wife and kid, but when your household income is $50k you know you can absorb medical/auto/housing issues. When your household income is $15k, there is no room for "life" to happen.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

This is the answer to a LOT of questions about "why don't the poor just do X?" Because the mental/emotional stress of living as a poor person makes simple decisions hard, and as a self-preservation technique they choose what is easiest in the short term. This has been proven time and time again in many different domains.

ETA: and before people chime in - no, living on a self-imposed budget is not the same as being poor. The fact that you may live on a tight budget means you still have something to fall back on when needed. Poor people don't have that cushion. So yeah you might be able to live on $15k a year with a wife and kid, but when your household income is $50k you know you can absorb medical/auto/housing issues. When your household income is $15k, there is no room for "life" to happen.

Preach my friend. I grew up upper middle class and had all the blind spots that most do. It wasn’t until I worked in Flint during the water crisis that I really understood just how many things many people take for granted. The number one reason the ED has become the first line of healthcare instead of the last is due to people not having a PCP. The reason many poor people don’t have a PCP is due to being banned for missing appointments due to lack of transportation

 

[RLD4ISU]

It has been interesting to read through this thread. Throwing in my two cents: for most people, obesity is not a always a simple problem to correct or a "one size fits all" solution. I'm considered obese, though I have a couple of close friends that did/do not believe I fall into that category. They said I'm overweight, but not what they consider obese. I guess that's a good thing. I have one heckuva time losing weight. Even with watching what I eat, how much I eat, counting calories and exercising...it is difficult. It takes a lot of work and a long time to lose even 10 pounds. I am Hypothyroid and post menopausal, so I get the double whammy for decreased metabolism (age and thyroid).

I was on Noom last year and it taught me a lot about mindful eating, what to eat, some of the psychology with it and new recipes to try. I'm so very far from being an expert on it, but it gave me some good building blocks. Now I'm working with a Weight Management program through my hospital.

I think all of these items factor into obesity:

Hormones
Metabolic disorders - Diabetes, Thyroid disease, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Food intake - too large of portions, too many calories and the right type of food (grapes vs potato chips)
Food - how to prepare, what to buy, etc.
Exercise
Water intake
Sleep
Stress
Habits
Environment
Genetics

 

[FriendlySpartan]

It has been interesting to read through this thread. Throwing in my two cents: for most people, obesity is not a always a simple problem to correct or a "one size fits all" solution. I'm considered obese, though I have a couple of close friends that did/do not believe I fall into that category. They said I'm overweight, but not what they consider obese. I guess that's a good thing. I have one heckuva time losing weight. Even with watching what I eat, how much I eat, counting calories and exercising...it is difficult. It takes a lot of work and a long time to lose even 10 pounds. I am Hypothyroid and post menopausal, so I get the double whammy for decreased metabolism (age and thyroid).

I was on Noom last year and it taught me a lot about mindful eating, what to eat, some of the psychology with it and new recipes to try. I'm so very far from being an expert on it, but it gave me some good building blocks. Now I'm working with a Weight Management program through my hospital.

I think all of these items factor into obesity:

Hormones
Metabolic disorders - Diabetes, Thyroid disease, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Food intake - too large of portions, too many calories and the right type of food (grapes vs potato chips)
Food - how to prepare, what to buy, etc.
Exercise
Water intake
Sleep
Stress
Habits
Environment
Genetics

This was all extremely well said.

Perfectly understandable if you don’t want to share but can I ask how the hospital program is going and if you like it?

 

[RLD4ISU]

This was all extremely well said.

Perfectly understandable if you don’t want to share but can I ask how the hospital program is going and if you like it?

I just started it, but have lost 4 pounds since Nov 1. My exercising is still inconsistent, so it’s mainly been portion control and a slight improvement on what I eat that has contributed to the loss.

I’ve met with the nurse practitioner and dietician, plus had lab work done. They want the labs as a base to work from. I am on Metformin and might try other weight loss medications to help. I meet with them once a month, so I should know more after that meeting. There’s also the option (if I want) to bring in the fitness and psychology specialists, plus a prescribed meal plan.