Posted on 05/24/2010 12:53:43 PM PDT by Steelfish
Pricey Grocery Stores Attract Skinniest Shoppers Obese customers far more common at low-cost markets; poverty a factor
By JoNel Aleccia May 24, 2010
The percentage of food shoppers who are obese is almost 10 times higher at low-cost grocery stores compared with upscale markets, a small new study shows. Researchers say the striking findings underscore poverty as a key factor in America’s growing girth.
In the Seattle area, a region with an average obesity rate of about 20 percent, only about 4 percent of shoppers who filled their carts at Whole Foods Market stores were obese, compared with nearly 40 percent of shoppers at lower-priced Albertsons stores.
That’s likely because people willing to pay $6 for a pound of radicchio are more able to afford healthy diets than people stocking up on $1.88 packs of pizza rolls to feed their kids, the study’s lead author suggested.
(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...
I am sure PJ can get them cheaper
The number 1 nutrition related problem among Americas “poor” is that they are overweight.
Last time I checked a healthy diet did not require purchasing overpriced “health food”.
In fact, a healthy diet purchased from the grocery store is far less expensive than the highly processed high fat high sugar foods that obese people seem to enjoy buying, and far healthier and less expensive than the fast food establishements the obese like to frequent.
A junk food diet (high fat, high carb) is a sign of laziness.
One of my former girlfriends is Chinese, and had traveled all over the world. 20 years ago, she said that America was the only country in the world that had ‘fat’ poor people-!
I knew reading those history books would come in handy, hee hee.
I have read similar; that stress or fear of want later drives the body to pack in carbs to store. I have to admit though that in any fat person’s cart I rarely see vegetables or fresh foods. Almost all processed.
YES!!!
It might have something to do with more affluent people having better self discipline.
Also, better looking people tend to make more money than fat fugly slobs. Life is so unfair.
Aha! You hit it! People with more money can afford the gym.
So true.
I’ve noticed in Trader Joe’s that there are very few obese folks shopping there. Many, many more obese folks shopping at Walmart.
Also, Trader Joe shoppers tend to return their shopping carts.
‘In the Seattle area’? OOookay, that tells me all I need to know. I’m surprised that some on this thread are swallowing this. No pun intended.
Liberal elites who shop at Whole Foods are just better people than you mugs at ‘cheaper’ grocery stores! They bike to work! They walk instead of destroying the planet. They’re just better people. And they’re thin. And thin people are the best people in the world, Johnny.
Haven't you heard? Healthy eating is a communist plot, and skinny people who excercise are all liberals. Obesity represents is a triumph of free market economics.
Ah!Trader Joe’s...Someday, when my children move out I hope to be able to shop there. It is lovely for smaller families, but pricey for a family of seven. I went to Sunflower and Fresh and Easy last week, with a little side trip to Fry’s (Krogers).
The more frequent you shop at Whole Foods or upscale "signature" chain stores, the less you can afford to buy...
There are plenty of obese female “vegans” who load up on carbs on the self-serve dry goods row.
” have to admit though that in any fat person’s cart I rarely see vegetables or fresh foods. Almost all processed.”
I think that’s true. Vegetables and other things require more time and effort to prepare and cook. For instance, it’s much cheaper to buy a whole chicken and cut it up yourself than to buy parts or “prepared” meals, etc. It doesn’t take a lot of time to cut up a whole chicken.
It’s not hard to use a crock pot and just throw in some “parts” and potatoes, carrots, onions etc. in the morning and let it stew through the day. Makes the meat fall off the bone.
I think a large portion of America’s population is depressed and depressed.
Well, poor people are more likely to be obese. Why? My theory is that people are generally poor because they are lazy, lack responsibility, and have a poor work ethic. How does that translate into obesity? Because they are too lazy to prepare their own foods, they get microwave pizzas or entrees and drink tons of soda.
My immediate family is largely poor and I see a ton of this. One family will work hard and make a decent living and make their own food. They stay generally healthy and thin. Others in the family are lazy, lie to the government to get welfare/food stamps, and just buy frozen foods and junk and drink nothing but soda. They are fat. They also don’t get much exercise because they just sit inside and watch TV on their flat panel HDTV’s.
Skinny folk don’t shop at upscale grocery stores. People with higher income will shop at higher priced grocery stores. And the poor are far more likely to be obese.
Right on all points!
So say you have someone who really needs a hip or knee replacement, and is only able to work 30 hours a week - at a job less than what they used to do...think they will be at whole foods?
Gawd what a stupid report. I get bulk out bran and oat meal at Winco for half a buck a pound. I’m not fat, but I’m not stupid enough to pay the Whole Foods price.
The cause and effect analysis skills demonstrated in this article are seriously lacking.
Are they fat because they buy cheep food, or are they fat because they buy what tastes good to them. Or are they fat because they are bored and have little self control. Fritos aren’t cheap.
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