Question #1
Why do you think this population (low-income urban African-American) of adolescents had lower HEI scores than the national average? Do you believe it is primarily for socioeconomic, racial, or geographic reasons, or for a combination of these issues?
posted by Anna Taylor @ 6:21 PM
13 comments
13 Comments:
72% of the population was considered to be of low-income status, so I definitely think that being in that income bracket has a lot to do with the lower scores on the HEI compared to the national average. It is well known that most calorie dense foods that have little to no nutritive value are typically high in saturated fat, total fat, trans fat, sugar, and carbohydrates. These foods are typically cheaper to purchase and more readily available for individuals that have an income disadvantage. I also think that education plays a large role in healthy eating or lack there of and this population may not have been educated on the importance of fruit & vegetable consumption due to cultural cooking methods or types of food eaten. The geographic region definitely could play a role as well. Chicago's climate is likely not suitable for some types of fresh fruit and vegetables and therefore would be sold at a higher cost, which would explain why a population of lower economic status would choose the cheaper, less nutritious options. So I do think that it is a combination of these issues based on the findings of this study and the results of many other studies similar to this one.
I think that SES is the key player in these adolescents' lower HEI scores. It has been shown time and time again that individuals of lower SES choose more processed foods, with higher calories, sodium and added sugar. I also think that tradition and race play a part, as well as their urban geographic location. Many traditional African American foods are fried, high in fat, sodium and sugar. This is not to say that other races don’t consume the same types of food as well. Living in a city, versus a rural location, can also play a limiting role in an adolescents' diet. The corner store may be the primary shopping place for these teenagers and their families, limiting their access to fresh fruits and vegetables. So in response, I believe these adolescents had lower than average HEI scores for a combination of the said reasons.
I believe it is a combination of these factors. I definitely think that the socioeconomic aspect plays a big part. These individuals may be relying more on inexpensive, convenience foods that are usually high in calories, fat and sodium, which is what the results of the food frequency questionnaire showed. Location also would play a big part, as well. The participants may not have easy access to nutritious foods outside of the school setting. In addition, there are likely more single parent households, which may pose a problem when it comes to providing scheduled, healthy meals outside of school. All of these factors are probably contributing to the lower HEI scores of the participants.
Socioeconomic status and geographic location are the two main reasons, I believe this population scored lower than the national average. Like Rose said, it has typically been found in studies that people who come from lower income households tend to have poorer diets due to lack of time to prepare food, income and lack of education. Also, many intercity schools catering to low income families have often been scrutinized for the quality of education. Chicago is no exception. Finally, many of these adolescents and their families use public transportation or walk, making grocery stores or farmers markets not very accessible. Therefore, it's easier to purchase foods that are highly processed and can last longer. So if the education, income and transportation are not available then it is definitely not surprising that these adolescents scored lower on the HEI, no matter what race they are.
I believe this population had lower HEI scores for a combination of these issues. The socioeconomic status could be affecting the geographic area this population was living. For example, many low-income individuals live in poor areas. The parents of these adolescents could be working long hours and may be unable to cook meals, let alone afford healthy foods. Sadly, healthy food isn't the primary concern for some low SES individuals.
Melanie makes a good point. Most calorie dense foods are lower in cost and are readily available to everyone, not to mention those with low SES.
There are varying food preferences and culture related food applications amongst different races, however; I do not think it causes a significant different in food selection. I am not sure I think the difference in the scores was significant. Comparing the African Americans with low-income in the study to white adolescents of high income leaves me to wonder how I can draw conclusions without seeing comparisons among similar demographics in different locations. I do think SES plays a role in food and nutrition. Lack of knowledge and the basis for decisions made when purchasing and consuming food seems to be factors related to health trends with those of a lower SES. A good question these days is what do we consider low SES considering our economy has changed greatly in recent years.
I believe that the most potent factor would be SES. Location can limit the available grocery stores or farmers markets; but individuals of middle to high SES in urban areas have means other than public transportation to access these venues. The fact is, when food insecurity is an issue, cheap meals that will provide satiety is appealing, regardless of nutritional value.
Bethany, good point, foods that are prepackaged are full of preservatives and last much longer than fresh fruits and vegetables. Since transportation is likely an issue, it makes sense that prepackaged foods would be appealing to persons of low SES.
I believe it is a combination of their socioeconomic status and their geographic location. To begin, since the participants were members of lower income families, they may not feel that they can afford to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats since these types of foods generally cost more money. Because these families have lower incomes, the parents may also have to work more than one job to try to make a better living and may feel that they don’t have time to cook healthy meals and instead purchase whatever is fast and cheap. In regards to their geographic location, they live in a very urban environment where there is another fast food place, gas station, convenience store, etc., on every street corner. Not only that, they are not being raised in a rural farming area, where they might grow their own crops and raise animals that can later be sources of food as well.
I believe it is a combination of all 3 reasons (SES, racial, and geographical) that the HEI scores were lower in this population. Convienence foods are typically more readily available and higher in sugar, saturated fat, sodium, etc. to these individuals and since these individuals are of low-SES they may only be thinking about the current meal and not about the next one or how the meal will affect their health.
Amy,
You made a really good point that you cannot really know if race or SES affects the scores differently because the comparison is a completely different population altogether. This makes it hard to determine what factors are causing the scores to be lower.
I think Melanie has a good point. Chicago is not in a good geographical location for fresh fruits and vegetables the majority of the year. This definitely will have an effect on the HEI scores. Overall, I think it is a combination of these factors that is leading to the lower HEI scores.
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