| Description |
In recent years increasing obesity rates have become a major concern in the United States. Statistics show socioeconomic status plays a big role in obesity outcomes, with those of lower SES more likely to be obese. Although exercise and stress have also been shown as important contributors to obesity outcomes, this paper will focus on how nutrition differs by SES through structural factors, discussed here as the food environment. The food environment includes healthy food access, cost of food, education about food, time required to prepare food and social influences, any of which may be more or less serious moderating factors in determining nutrition and obesity outcomes in conjunction with SES. This paper examines which of these factors have the most impact on nutrition outcomes, and consequently, obesity outcomes, between SES groups since changes in the food environment may prove more effective than targeting individual behaviors toward good nutrition. To accomplish this goal, research articles and USDA data were analyzed and compared to determine which factors appear most salient between SES and the food environment and, ultimately, good nutrition and obesity rates. |
