The problem of overweight and obesity of the population in recent decades has come to the fore in the health systems of the most developed countries of the world and countries with lower incomes. I agree with the opinion that one of the leading factors affecting fatness and obesity is a small salary. Mohammadbeigi et al. (2018) mention that “the percentage of caloric intake from fast foods has increased fivefold over the past three decades among adolescents” (p.236). This directly affects the quality of the food that people consume. So the burgers, milkshakes, and nuggets sold in fast-food restaurants are much cheaper than the healthier, more nutritious alternatives. The low price raises the assumption that poor people eat more fast food than other socio-economic groups. Such a violation in the diet directly affects the weight gain of the population.
In this response, the cause of obesity is also identified as insufficient income. However, there is a greater emphasis on the quality of education. The author says that the higher the level of education, the higher the income, the healthier and better people eat. It is also worth noting that a low level of education also affects the choice of consumer products. With insufficient knowledge in the field of health and nutrition, people will choose unhealthy foods that can affect their health and appearance. It is important to note that nutrition education should be provided at the school level. Tallon et al. (2021) note that “the school-based nutrition interventions may provide a practical, attractive, and cost-effective strategy to improve nutrition knowledge and eating behaviours”. Thus, the level of income and the level of education have a direct impact on obesity and excess weight.
References
Mohammadbeigi, A., Asgarian, A., Moshir, E., Heidari, H., Afrashteh, S., Khazaei, S., & Ansari, H. (2018). Fast food consumption and overweight/obesity prevalence in students and its association with general and abdominal obesity. Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene, 59(3), 236-240.
Tallon, J. M., Saavedra Dias, R., Costa, A. M., Leitao, J. C., Barros, A., Rodrigues, V., Monteiro, M.J., & Silva, A. J. (2021). Impact of technology and school-based nutrition education programs on nutrition knowledge and behavior during adolescence-A systematic review. Scandinavian Journal of Educational Research, 65(1), 169-180.