Is the low cost of junk food making us obese? Maybe not directly but it is a contributing factor to the enormous rates of obesity in the United States. According to the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, junk foods cost less than fruits and vegetables (calorie for calorie) and prices are less likely to rise as a result of inflation.

 The results of this study were astounding where, highly calorific junk foods would cost $1.76 per 1,000 calories on average, low-calorie nutritious food would equate to $18.16 per 1,000 calories; and we’re not even mentioning organic food.

 That’s not all. Low-calorie nutritious foods also have a tendency to fluctuate in terms of price depending upon season, inflation, supply, demand, and all sorts of other factors. So, your child’s favorite fruit say strawberries, may cost $.99 one month and $4.99 the next.

 Now tell me, if you were struggling to make ends meet, would you go for the junk food or the low-calorie high-cost nutritious food, knowing the average person should consume approximately 2,000 calories per day?

 That being said, a low cost Big Mac from McDonald’s sounds a lot better for low-income citizens than 10 apples, simply because it’s cheaper. So if you fall in the low-income group, there’s a greater chance you will struggle with obesity simply because healthier options are more expensive and less affordable than junk food.

 Then again, it’s time for me to play Devil’s advocate, as this study does not prove that low-income citizens would CHOOSE healthier options if the opportunity presented itself where fruits and veggies cost the equivalent to junk food, calorie for calorie.

 Nonetheless, we should all have the option of eating healthy; thus, we need to lower the cost of healthy and nutritious foods.

 For some simple changes at home, try to grow your own fruits and veggies if you have a tiny patch of land. If not, look for certain large fruit markets and strictly go for what’s in season. Try to mix in fruits and veggies into your diet as often as you can. Hope this helps! 

 

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