Sep 23, 2015 08:13 AM EDT
Poor People Do Not Eat More Fast Food, Study Says

A new study debunks misconception that fast food consumption is higher among less fortunate people.

A recent study released from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) this month dispels this long existing notion that poor people eat more fast food than other Americans, which leads to obesity.

Experts found out that there are no connections between poverty status and fast food intake. It pointed out that there are a lot of ways which can contribute to the obesity or over weight problems.

The research covers from 2011 to 2012, it revealed that about a third of American children consumed fast food on a given day.

Roberto Ferdman points out the study in The Washington Post.

"Well-off kids, poor kids, and all those in between tend to get about the same percentage of their calories from fast food, according to a survey of more than 5,000 people," Ferdman said. "More precisely, though, it's the poorest kids that tend to get the smallest share of their daily energy intake from Big Macs, Whoppers, Chicken McNuggets, and french fries."

According to the study children who belong to the poorer families get the lowest calories from the meal.

A few years ago, another study, was conducted by a U.C. Davis researchers, and it contradicted the alleged marriage of the poor and McDonald's, findings disclosed that the children belonging to rich actually eat more fast food than poor children. The lead author of the study said that the findings shouldn't have actually been a surprise, considering the fact that fast food is marketed towards the middle class group, the Money reported.

Some researchers suggest that instead of blaming the fast food industry to the increasing obesity problem, people should look at the other contributing factors such as the large variety of sugary products that are easily available and affordable.

 PREVIOUS POST
NEXT POST