The economics of obesity.

G'day G'day Folks,

I have been taking the opportunity to keep myself up to date by
searching Pubmed for more recent information. Here is one that is
about as recent as it gets and it remakes the simple point that the
key to reducing the rate of diabetes is to eat better quality food and
that isn't always easy or even possible. Unfortunately the calorie
dense food with refined grains, added sugar and fats are comparatively
cheap.

While I live in an area where fruit and vegetables are plentiful
maintaining a nutrient dense diet of lean meats,fish fresh vegetables
and fruit requires some juggling. These days where the roadside
stalls have $5 and $10 bags of oranges etc, I ask them to make up a $2
bag. I guess many of you are laughing at the thought of a bag of
oranges for $2, like it ain't going to happen anytime anywhere near
where you live.


How do others find it?

1: Am J Clin Nutr. 2005 Jul;82(1 Suppl):265S-273S.

The economics of obesity: dietary energy density and energy cost.

Drewnowski A, Darmon N.

Nutritional Sciences Program, School of Public Health and Community
Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
adamdrew@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Highest rates of obesity and diabetes in the United States are found
among the lower-income groups. The observed links between obesity and
socioeconomic position may be related to dietary energy density and
energy cost.

Refined grains, added sugars, and added fats are among
the lowest-cost sources of dietary energy. They are inexpensive, good
tasting, and convenient.

In contrast, the more nutrient-dense lean meats, fish, fresh
vegetables, and fruit generally cost more.

An inverse relationship between energy density of foods (kilojoules
per gram) and their energy cost (dollars per megajoule) means that the
more energy-dense diets are associated with lower daily food
consumption costs and may be an effective way to save money.
However,economic decisions affecting food choice may have physiologic
consequences. Laboratory studies suggest that energy-dense foods and
energy-dense diets have a lower satiating power and may result in
passive overeating and therefore weight gain.

Epidemiologic analyses suggest that the low-cost energy-dense diets
also tend to be nutrient poor.

If the rise in obesity rates is related to the growing price
disparity between healthy and unhealthy foods, then the current
strategies for obesity prevention may need to be revised. Encouraging
low-income families to consume healthier but more costly foods to
prevent future disease can be construed as an elitist approach to
public health. Limiting access to inexpensive foods through taxes on
frowned upon fats and sweets is a regressive measure. The broader
problem may lie with growing disparities in incomes and wealth,
declining value of the minimum wage, food imports, tariffs, and trade.
Evidence is emerging that obesity in America is a largely economic
issue.

PMID: 16002835 [PubMed - in process]

Best wishes,
--
Quentin Grady ^ ^ /
New Zealand, >#,#< [
/ \ /\
"... and the blind dog was leading."

http://homepages.paradise.net.nz/quentin
.

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