Killer at Large Documentary (Trailer)
According to studies the poorer you are, the more calories you consume. Socioeconomic status plays a major role when it comes to obesity. When we think of obesity, we associate it with unhealthy foods. The prepackaged, processed foods tend to be a lot cheaper than organic, fresh food. Therefore poverty may lead to a diet low in cost, but high in calorie packaged foods and fast foods. For instance, a person with low income will find it easier to take his or her family to a McDonalds and order food from the dollar money everyone other day. In the documentary, Killer at Large, an obesity researcher came to the conclusion that a single dollar could buy more calories of junk food rather than health food. After one of his observations, he discovered that a dollar could get someone 1200 calories of chips or cookies, but only 250 calories of carrots. A proper healthy diet can therefore be somewhat challenging to people of a lower socioeconomic class.
He also points out that a Happy Meal from the very well known fast food restaurant, McDonalds, contains over 700 calories. The amount of calories in this ‘Kid’s Meal’ should be considered to be an adults meal. Dr. Talbott takes on the adult meals at McDonalds, which normally consists of a Big Mac, large sized fries, and a large soda. This type of meal has over 1700 calories. That’s more than double the calories of what an adult meal should have. The calories in adult meals being provided by McDonalds should in fact be considered to be a “family meal”. This documentary is a real wide opener. It’s surprising how much a family’s socioeconomic status actually plays in society.
It makes sense that families whose incomes are below the poverty live have a greater chance of being obese, given that most unhealthy foods cost much less. The cost of dietary essentials, such as fruits and vegetables, are higher in cost then let’s say, soft drinks and sweets. The cost of fast food and foods with bad ingredients are much lower, causing individuals with low income to spend most of their money at these unhealthy fast food chains. Also, in many low-income areas there are only little markets that don’t hold a variety of foods like a super-market would. And if a child is living with a single parent that works late or balances two jobs, the kid may only have the opportunity to eat fast food or a microwaved dinner. Fast food chains market themselves as being an easy and affordable alternative, and many families are sucked into the easiness, even when knowing that these unhealthy foods shouldn’t be eaten very often.
As you mentioned, many kids then consume too many calories in a day but by being brought up in this lifestyle, it will probably stick with them into their adulthood. Low income families may lack exercise opportunities for their children or get a hold of healthier foods. But also there is a possibility that kids in low income families are over-eating due to their situation, such as living in an underprivileged neighborhood/house. There are a lot of reasons that could go into the statistic that lower income families tend to be more obese than higher income families.
Hunger vs healthy food, that how I see it. Many people believe the MacDonald is place where people can buy cheap food, therefore, many low income families go to eat the unhealthy ailments. But if you take moment to see it in different point of view, you will see the reality why low income families eat there are. Let’s take a minute to analyze this. A big Mac meal cost about $8.25 with tax. Its cheap $8.25 can get you 550 calories , plus 250 calories of fries, so far your body is injecting 750 of bad calories without the coca cola. However, your body is also getting something else , is getting the feeling of fullness.
Now, let take same scenario, but this time you will eat at Chipotle. A bowl salad will cost about $8.25 the same price you will pay at MacDonald, but this time instead of the juice unhealthy big mac, you getting a nice salad with only 250 calories. The only problem here is that 95% you will not feel the feeling of fullness. You see as my point of view, low income families not only get to the point of obesity because they buy cheap food , but because they want to feel the feeling fullness
Socioeconomic status is definitely correlated with one’s choice of diet, but there are other factors that can contribute to obesity as well. For example, one’s physical activity and genes are factors that are unrelated to socioeconomic status, yet they greatly contribute to the development of obesity. Whether one is financially stable or not, if he or she is physically inactive, the chances for obesity will undoubtedly increase. Moreover, ignoring genetic engineering for simplicity’s sake, one cannot control his or her own genes. If obesity is embedded within the person’s family history, one has a greater chance of risk for obesity. Socioeconomic status is certainly a powerful factor in dictating one’s health, but other factors are crucial as well.
This blog also reminds me of another major element that plays a role in one’s health: education, which is another element within the scopes of socioeconomic status. People with higher incomes are able to afford the expensive tuitions of prestigious universities, which may lead to more opportunities and better career options later on in life. This will eventually lead back to the original discussion, as people with lower incomes will have difficulties with paying the tuition of higher education. Due to the lack of higher education, one may have to work lower paying jobs and consequently, resort to poorer choice of foods. As we can see, this situation will perpetuate into a vicious cycle unless changes are made to certain stages. For example, one can work multiple jobs or receive support from family members to break the financial difficulties.
This two minute and forty four second of video tells obesity is how much serious in the US. It is easy to find obesity people in our surrounding. According to video, In2006, the U.S State Department reported that terrorism killed 28 American citizens, and that same year, the C.D.C estimated that obesity killed 112,000. Former Surgeon General Richard Carmona says, “obesity is a terror within; it’s destroying our society from within and unless we do something about it, the magnitude of the dilemma will dwarf 9/11 or any other terrorist event that you can point out.” And they also said this generation of children is heaviest in the American history. As this statement, obesity is becoming the single greatest killer of the America. There is a lot of junk food, sweet things, and food which plump a child flesh. Those food is so enticing to refuse, it is hard to resist temptation to them especially, a little child. I think one of the reasons is that children do not tend to going out with their friend. And stay at home by themselves with computer or other electronic devices. Most urgent issue is to find a way to reduce American child who is obesity.
In the contrast, the skinny is one of the standards of a beauty so doing diet is trend in the Korea. Korean girls want to look skinny as actors. Therefore, there is another problems involve of diet. Many Korean children want to go on a beauty diet, so sometimes they do not get enough nutrition from food. This involves an illness. The middle point is always good for everybody. And Last thing is that I think this is a well organized video. After this video, I wanted to see a full firm of this one.