Obesity linked to poverty

annecordelia

It is a complex subject, but in the main is linked to sugar consumption, I believe.

Hidden trans-fats, corn syrupr and aspartame too.

Grammaretto

Isn't it the cycle of deprivation? Bottle fed baby, sweets as treats, sugary cereals, burgers and high salt foods that by the time these children are grown up they have no desire to eat fruit and vegetables. They just don't like them.
Then when they become parents they continue the cycle.

There are myriad reasons why babies are bottle fed and I'm not sure whether the statistics would back this up.
Some babies in our family have been bottle fed (after trying breastfeeding unsuccessfully) and it doesn't follow that they eat unhealthily or are at all overweight now.

As breastfeeding is free, why would someone on a limited income choose to bottle feed I wonder?

It is a complex subject, but in the main is linked to sugar consumption, I believe.

Shortlegs

If, years ago, there were no overweight children in your class, who went in goal when you played football?

We didn't play football.

cookiemonster66

yes they were skinny back in the days, my mum was born in the slums of East End London (in the same place as Call the Midwife series) she was one of 13 kids, all born every nine months apart, they were all skinny, and they had rickets due to malnutrition, and they were put in care! poverty = obesity is not always accurate, you can get rich fat people, skinny poor people!

But it's true these days. There are very clear links between poverty and obesity, especially in children.

GrannyLaine

*Growstuff*, Oopsminty

There is absolutely no 'blaming' in my post and if I had felt the need to add in all the possible personal circumstances where different choices had to be made, I'd be typing into next week.
It seems that people are only interested in taking personal umbrage rather than looking at the causes of a very real problem on a national level.

Nothing to do with personal umbrage, but it's women who are responsible for breast feeding. I just hate the cultural battleground which breast feeding has become.

If, years ago, there were no overweight children in your class, who went in goal when you played football?

yes they were skinny back in the days, my mum was born in the slums of East End London (in the same place as Call the Midwife series) she was one of 13 kids, all born every nine months apart, they were all skinny, and they had rickets due to malnutrition, and they were put in care! poverty = obesity is not always accurate, you can get rich fat people, skinny poor people!

BBbevan

Obesity is not always linked to poverty. My DD and SiL have very high powered jobs, and consequently good salaries. They have no children and during lockdown have worked all hours from home. Before lock down they left home at 7 am and returned at 7in the evening. My DD did not feel like cooking from scratch then. So they ate convenience food. Both are now obese. My DD realises they must change but SiL is very ,very set in his ways. What to do ?

No, it's not always linked to poverty but there is a very clear correlation between poverty and obesity, although not in all cultures. In the UK, black people are more likely to be overweight, followed by white people, then Asian (all areas).

BBbevan can they batch cook together at weekends? In fact, veggies would be fine being prepared in advance and stored in the fridge, although I have read that frozen veg have retained more nutrients than fresh.
Stir fry is quick and easy, fish cooks in a few minutes etc.

DD and partner used to order boxes which were delivered with all the ingredients for a meal, it did have to be cooked but was all prepared. Expensive but if they are on good salaries then worth paying for the convenience.

Growstuff, Oopsminty

There is absolutely no 'blaming' in my post and if I had felt the need to add in all the possible personal circumstances where different choices had to be made, I'd be typing into next week.
It seems that people are only interested in taking personal umbrage rather than looking at the causes of a very real problem on a national level.

PamelaJ1

My brother in law, a fairly affluent, educated chap is a tad overweight and controls his diabetes with medication.
He doesn’t believe there is a link between obesity, diabetes and I’ll health. ??‍♀️
Even Covid Hasn’t shaken his belief.

Wait until he starts suffering from the consequences of diabetes! Diabetic neuropathy is no fun.

Callistemon

And, if it just doesn't work out for whatever reason, then it is yet another reason to make new mothers feel guilty and stressed.

I agree. I honestly don't think blaming mothers for deciding not to breastfeed has much to do with the fact that middle aged and older people eat and drink more than their bodies need, for whatever reason.

My brother in law, a fairly affluent, educated chap is a tad overweight and controls his diabetes with medication.
He doesn’t believe there is a link between obesity, diabetes and I’ll health. ??‍♀️
Even Covid Hasn’t shaken his belief.

And, if it just doesn't work out for whatever reason, then it is yet another reason to make new mothers feel guilty and stressed.

Obesity is not always linked to poverty. My DD and SiL have very high powered jobs, and consequently good salaries. They have no children and during lockdown have worked all hours from home. Before lock down they left home at 7 am and returned at 7in the evening. My DD did not feel like cooking from scratch then. So they ate convenience food. Both are now obese. My DD realises they must change but SiL is very ,very set in his ways. What to do ?

But breastfeeding IS the biological norm and confers life long benefit to Mum and baby

May I politely repeat it may well be a biological norm to breast feed however it's not the norm if you've had a double mastectomy at the age of 24.

GrannyLaine

The diversity of comments and emotions on here shows what a complex problem this is and there are NO simple answers. The food industry has a great deal to answer for.

The point raised about formula feeding babies is a valid one: women can make informed choices as long as they have sound information. We are fortunate to live in a country where it is possible to make it a safe choice. But breastfeeding IS the biological norm and confers life long benefit to Mum and baby

This sounds like just another thing to blame women for getting wrong.

For me, the long and the short is there is so much choice that it's easy to be overweight

Almost we have been told for years not to fat shame. Which I agree with. Nobody should be bullied for being overweight. However it's gone so far that GPs are hesitant to mention weight. Phrases like big is beautiful haven't helped.

The older generation have issues with medication which can cause weight gain. Also they are less likely to be as active as they once were. Thyroid issues also cause weight gain until they're medicated correctly which can take a while

My daughter in law works in a primary school in what some may class a deprived area. Very few overweight children.

This article is quite interesting. It's 6 years old but still valid.

www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/26/three-quarters-over-65s-overweight

The diversity of comments and emotions on here shows what a complex problem this is and there are NO simple answers. The food industry has a great deal to answer for.

The point raised about formula feeding babies is a valid one: women can make informed choices as long as they have sound information. We are fortunate to live in a country where it is possible to make it a safe choice. But breastfeeding IS the biological norm and confers life long benefit to Mum and baby

I've saves your sauce recipe Gillybob. Thanks. I've tried making hummus but I'm useless at it.

I never had cookery lessons at school, but from the stuff my children cooked, there could be something in that.

Certainly, "traditional" British cooking is very heavy on carbs. The current obsession with cake making as entertainment can't help, but this doesn't really explain why there's a proven link between obesity and poverty.

Could it be that the cookery lessons from years ago were heavy on carbohydrate?

Could it be that those cookery lessons.s from yea

Furret

It shouldn’t be the ‘norm’ to bottle feed though should it? And rather than pick on one point look at the rest of the post. There is a valid point being made.

This is exactly the problem with debate on here. People pick up on one point and either take it personally or use it as a stick to beat the poster.

It certainly is the norm for some women to bottle feed. And as the article states we should stop haranguing women who choose to bottle feed. We don't know their story.

Also there was no valid point being made in the rest of the post

As growstuff has rightly pointed out the most obese amongst us are are of more mature years. Possibly the age of many of us here.

So were they all part of some deprived upbringing being bottle fed and not eating vegetables?

The latter point is interesting, My youngest two hated vegetables. I did my best, concealing, cajoling, bribing. No good. Not one vegetable passed my son's lips

He's now 28, is vegetarian and eats his greens with gusto.

I don't like the suggestion that there is a group of people who are basically depriving their children of good foods when it's clearly not the case.