yes you can be overweight and in poverty

[Mumof4worriedfor]

Just saw this story on ITV twitter.com/itvnews/status/614128648585617408

Most of the comments are about her weight. Don't people understand the cheaper food is more unhealthy and you can very quickly get into poverty! Really annoyed by the response.

I don't think anyone is saying it's simple GnomeDePlume and there are always barriers - either mental or physical to doing anything worthwhile.

Just that being poor doesn't mean obesity and depression are inevitable.

If all the neighbour kids are eating chicken nuggets and chips then your own will tend to want the same.

Just because other kids are eating certain things it doesn't mean you have to feed the same to your children. If all the other six year olds have a 10pm curfew and your child wants the same do you just allow it?

I live in a naaice area

The kids here are skinny and well covered...it depends
The mothers are pin thin or well to v well covered
There seems to be no correlation between parental weight and child weight

I know that these observations fly in the face of what I read everywhere but thems the facts, as I observe

I think that you can be v overweight and miss meals and remain v overweight
Weightloss is a 3500 kcal deficit to lose a lb. That is a fair bit

As far as food deserts go, isn't this a question of supply and demand? eg, if a greengrocers could do a roaring trade on a council estate then economics would suggest they'd open up there. But generally, they don't.

Or the local Tesco metro could stock loads of cheap veg and wholegrain bread, but in reality their veg section is tiny and the bread is almost all white.

Where I live it's skewed the other way, it reflects the market they're in and the demand for what will actually sell.

As for not going running in case the neighbours laugh, well that's just ridiculous. I started running recently and I don't give a shit who laughs. it just sounds so much like excuse making and it would be shot down in flames if it was framed the other way round.

'Oh poor people, they can't run can they. They have silly ideas about their image and don't want to sweat in public'. Tell that to any number of top class athletes that have come from the poorest of backgrounds.

I should say that obviously making excuses for not exercising is a human issue, not a poverty one. Lots of people do sod all exercise but have time to watch three hours of telly a night, regardless of income or social background.

But if they actually wanted to, they could. Regardless of income or social background.

Yep. Nothing somebody working two jobs on the minimum wage wants to do more when they get home is go for a run.........

They don't have to run when they get home from work. They can run at the weekends.

Anyway, running isn't the only form of exercise.

You can be overweight and in relative poverty, yes. I disagree that eating healthily is more expensive. Carrots, potatoes, veg, etc in general can be very cheap indeed.

Sure, they don't want to go for a run. I don't want to go for a run either. I do it because it feels good when I'm well into it and because of the health benefits. I'm not telling anybody they have to share my hobbies, many people hate running and that's up to them. But exercising in some shape or form is usually a choice, health issues notwithstanding.

Where I live there is a rape, mugging and violent assault every week within a very small area. Broad daylight stuff. I'd have to get into my car and drive to the track. But then, I have a car. I don't even walk to the local shop.

Just saying, because as a pp pointed out, sometimes it's just a safety issue.

Drive to what track?

You can jog/run anywhere.

Not the track specifically but to parks out of town and safer streets. You are right though. I use my stairs but it isn't as nice as being outside.

Students living in rough areas often form 'walking buses' or running groups for travelling in safety. It won't suit everybody and it won't work everywhere, but again there is often a solution when enough people have the will.

MorrisZapp: I started running recently and I don't give a shit who laughs.

Good for you but lots of people do mind and being mocked by the neighbours may be just one more reason/excuse why someone would rather stay in front of the television.

Looking at food deserts: my local corner shop keeper is working to the tightest of tight margins. He doesnt have the buying power of a Tesco. He cannot afford to have fruit & veg go off so doesnt stock them.

WorraLiberty I disagree I think that some posters do think it is simple.

I love running. I would recommend it to anyone as a mood enhancer and a way to get and keep fit. However unless you are also watching what you eat pretty carefully you won't lose much weight. It is many things but it isn't an answer to the 'obesity epidemic' per se. I can run 10k and burn between 600 and 700 calories - the equivalent of a moderate meal - doing that 3 or 4 times a week is a drop in the ocean set against the average Western diet.

Run by all means, I wish everyone could, but don't expect to get slim doing it.

Nobody needs to go running to exercise if they feel embarrassed though. There are plenty of ways that people can exercise withiut spending a fortune. Charity shops have exercise DVDs for very little money and if people are embarrassed they can do the DVDs with the curtains shut and nobody watching.
Walking is another good form of exercise and can save money on petrol / bus fares too. I don't think many people can say that they find walking in public too embarrassing.

The idea that poor people can't run because they are so tired from working two jobs, is so ridiculous.

In the city, where people pull 13/14 hour days regularly, the gym are heaving. Out of hours. Where there's a will, there's a way.

I am a 4x a week gym goer and runner, and I can honestly honestly say that when I see see someone very overweight doing exercise or running I think "good on you!!!" And I will them on.

A large bag of organic carrots from waitrose no less... £1
A large broccoli crown... £69p

I think the issue is that in deprived areas, the only shops close to hand tend to be newsagents or one stops, which generally sell awful veg but cut price Doritos.

fiorentina when i was on JSA in the late 90s i couldnt afford five pounds for cheap trainers and i certainly couldnt afford 25 pounds + for a sports bra for my then 46 Gs.

Even after slimming down im a 34 HH. which makes sports bras a little harder to find but at least now when i do find them i can just about afford to buy one for the now 30 pounds they charge.

You don't need a sports bra or trainers for walking. Running isn't a good form of exercise for everyone anyway. If you don't have the equipment for a specific form of exercise or don't want to / can't do a specific form of exercise then it is worth considering what is possible rather than saying 'I can't afford to buy the stuff needed or I'm too embarrassed so I won't bother'.

John Lewis have a huge rack of Shock Absorbers half price right now.

Lol, huge rack :)