Food Choices Among the Poor

Many authors have published books shedding more light about the effects of food choice on the poor people in living urban areas and other conditions. A study by Alkon, Block, Moore, Gillis, DiNuccio, and Chavez (2013) investigates how the poor people in urban areas chose their food as well as those factors that influence their food choices ( Bauman et al., 2012) . The authors found out that some of the factors that influence the food choices for poor people living in urban regions include the cost of the food, distances, affordability, and preferences. The authors further point out that the poor people in urban utilizes a wide range of strategies to obtain food. However, they mainly focus on the types of food available at the prices they can afford. The study concludes its findings by stating that food justice activists , policy makers, and planners, should draw upon the study’s findings to ensure that the interventions established match the needs and requirements of the urban poor (Haynes-Maslow, 2013). 

Some other authors looked at the issue of food availability among the poor people in urban areas by considering factors such as prevalence of obesity. Others also looked at the nutritional characterization of the poor people in urban areas. They found out that most people living in the less privileged settings in towns and cities prefer to buy cheap and readily available food even though such foods to not add any value to their health. This group of people do not have knowledge about the importance of specific foods in their meal, and the few who have the knowledge, lack the finances to purchase these foods. Moreover, Kosvi et al (2014) pointed out that under-nutrition among children below six years was more prevalent among the poor in rural areas than those in urban areas were. Those who live in urban areas are much poor and lack knowledge on food types than those in the urban areas, who constitute the elite group. He proposed that the government and other policy makers should take steps in creating effective intervention methods for children living in these geographical areas to avoid child mortality due to malnutrition. 

Another research study by Kohl et al (2014) also looked at the issue from the perspective of physical activities. The authors found out that lack of adequate physical activities among people in different settings also played a significant role in affecting their health statuses. Physical exercise can involve activities involves making the body to cut some calories by significantly reducing the accumulation of fats in the body. On the other hand, Lee (2012) looked at the availability of obesity among young children and tied it to the availability of food. The study reported that most young children aged below ten years were prone to becoming obese due to the food choices made by their parents. They further recognized that most people chose the cheapest and most available foods in the market. In many instances, fast foods are the most available and affordable among poor people in urban communities. Fact foods are known to contain fats, which accumulate in the bodies and cause disastrous effects on health. 

The study by Haynes-Maslow (2013) concluded that community factors play a role in hindering the availability of fruits to the poor people in their regions. Fruits are important for obtaining vitamins, which are essential in the body to prevent diseases. They also play a big role in the overall health of an individual. Similarly, a study by Kavosi , HassanzadehRostami, Kavosi, Nasihatkon, Moghadami, and Heidari, (2014) concluded their study by stating that even though malnutrition cases are low in their area of study, it is important for health experts and policy makers to come up with effective intervention methods to help reduce malnutrition among young children from poor communities. On the same note, Befort, Nazir, and Perri, (2012) reports that the rate of obesity among the poor in the urban areas is on the increase due to too much consumption of fast foods, which are cheap and readily affordable. Therefore, they point out that prevalence of obesity among this group should be discussed and considered for better health services. Moreover, the authors point out that the affected population should be educated on the dangers of poor eating habits and how they can prevent diseases related to poor diets. 

Similarly, Lee (2012) concluded that obesity among young people in various communities is on the rise because of the food choices made by their families. The author noted that most families settled on cheap and readily available food materials such as fast food, which compounds the chances of becoming obese. He stated that public health professionals and government officials should come up with effective intervention methods for helping young children to fight obesity and reduce the risk among people in the youngest population. Similarly, in their study to investigate the prevalence of global obesity, Malik, Willett, and Hu (2013) reported that there has been a sharp increase in the global obesity issues. They call upon the government and community health professionals to educate the public on the needs to eat healthy to reduce the rates of obesity in the world. 

Another study by Popkin, Adair and Ng, (2012) also studied the increasing issue of global obesity. The authors concluded that obesity is on the increase in many nations around the world. They stated further that developing countries are noticing a sharp increase in the health issue. Developing countries are embracing the culture of other nations, which concentrate so much on work and have little time for activities like eating. They therefore, resort to eating fast foods and avoid cooking from their homes, as they see it as a waste of time. Similarly, growth in world obesity is marked by the poor food choices made by people from poor communities in rural and urban areas. Therefore, they call upon public health professionals, the government, and community health agents to work towards addressing the occurrence of such health problems to help avert such health issues and save the lives of the people involved. Loopstra, and Tarasuk, (2013) concluded in their study that severity of food security was high among people with low income. According to the authors, low income was correlated to the type of employment and employment rates. They found out that those in low earning employment suffered issues of lack of adequate amounts of food. Food is a basic need and a such demand for it is high, making the prices to remain high. They called upon the governments and policy markers not only to increase the number of jobs but also to improve salaries awarded to people working in low earning sectors to improve their ability to buy food. The cost of food should also be regulated as some industries raise the prices based on demand, not considering how it will have disastrous effect on the buyer. 

The program set out by looking at factors that drove food choices among poor people in urban areas. It then continues to discuss health problems such as obesity, not only from an urban but also from a global perspective. Similarly, the program also included factors such as physical activity and its effects on health. Therefore, to improve the program, it is recommended that the developers should focus on one topic. The program manager should also pick one demographic area to study so that there can be conclusive answers for ease of comparison. For example, if the program aims at looking at food choices and its health impact on the poor people living in urban areas, then the program specialist should focus on this area without deviating to the global arena. 

The program mainly targeted the poor people living in urban areas. The program aimed to find out how they chose their food as well as the factors that drove or motivated the abilities to choose food. Similarly, the program managers also aimed to investigate the health effects of food choices among poor people living in urban areas. Finally, the main aim of the program was to come up with or propose the necessary solutions to the issues found during the program. 

From the sources used concerning current health status of people living in poor urban populations and their food choices abilities, it is clear that there is a noticeable trend in their food choices. For example, most sources of information focus on the effects of choosing food on an individual’s health. It is clear from the reports that poor choice of food products leads to increases on health issues such as obesity. Moreover, the sources reported that there is a strong relationship between the amount of money at the disposal of a person and their choices of food. Evidence showed that the poor suffered mainly from diseases related to poor eating habits than the rich. The sources also showed that there is a relationship between the level of education and the choices of food taken. Several studies used for the paper reported an increase in obesity not only among poor people in urban areas but also on a global scale. 

Notably, most of the authors report on the increases of obesity among young children living in poor family settings in urban areas. On the same note, some authors also report on the increases of obesity among young people in developing countries. These findings also points out to an important shift in the existence of obesity as a health issue. For example, long ago, people used to think of obesity as a disease of the rich people who could not make better health choices. However, the condition is also prevalence among poor people in rural and urban areas as well as in developing nations (Malik, Willett, and Hu , 2013; Lee, 2012). The common denominator or the common factor of people chosen for the study is that they should be poor people living in urban areas. It is possible to make comparison when people with similar characteristics and lifestyles are chosen for a study than when participants come from diverse backgrounds with few or no common characteristics for the study. 

Methodology 

Most of the researchers relied on exploration as a method of finding out information. All the authors conducted effective research on the issue of food choices, physical activity and their impact such as obesity on the population studies. The common methodology that was used during the program involved research through observation, questioning and revisiting existing records of secondary data concerning these issue in the community or population chosen for the study. Sometimes, a researcher relies on the use of observation, and using questionnaires to find the necessary feedback. In many instances, there have not been noticeable differences in the collected results. The only differences exist in the types of investigations that various researchers find fit and more applicable to them in their area of study. These methods are most preferred because of accuracy and their reliability. Moreover, accuracy and reliability can easily be established as it can be measured using scientific measurement techniques. 

This study aims to use research methods such as observations and questionnaires to collect data for the study. Since this is more of a social science study that will not require answering the ‘when’ ‘why’ and ‘how’ of the study, but more inclined in finding numerical representation of data for better and effective conclusions, it will be imperative to use quantitative research methods for the program. On the same note, it will be important to involve the use of questionnaires to enable the researcher to get reliable amount of information. For example, during the collection of data, the questionnaires will be given to the participants who will answer them anonymously. The ability to give room for anonymity will make it possible for participants to give the right answers effectively. This is important because the study will touch on sensitive issue affecting people in their lives. 

Study design 

The program will utilize the pre-test pos-test design of study. This design will make it possible for the program manager to select the samples of the people to participate in the study. For example, the program managers will ensure that the participants in the study consist of the test and the control group. Those in the test groups will be from poor families and will be studied on their food choices, exercising and health issue. They will also be examined on the prevalence rte of obesity. Similarly, those in the control groups will be people from rich or well off families who will also be subjected to the same questions. After collecting the primary data, the program manager will analyze the data collected from both the experimental and the control group to find out the similarities and differences. Similarly, the pre-test post-test study method will make it possible for the researcher to test two groups, implement the program to one group, and post-test both groups again to find out the relevance of the data collected. For example, they will be tested on shopping techniques, the factor that motivate and drive their choices of food. Similarly, all the participants will go through some physical exercises after explaining or reporting how often they exercise through the questionnaires. The reason for repeating the process is to ensure reliability of the methods is achieved. Reliability is an important component in any research as it measures how accurate the methods and instruments of data collection are. 

The program will be carried out by measuring and recording the body mass index (BMI) of the participants with time to monitor changes in their health status. This will be done irrespective of obesity or lack of obesity among the participants in the study, similarly, the program will also monitor the physical activities undertaken by the participants to evaluate the level of their physical activeness. 

The program manager will obtain the participants in the program through quota sampling. The samples will consist of 25 adult men, 25 adult women, 15 teenage girls and 15 teenage boys. Quota sampling involving selecting a population from the different groups, which the case are the men, women, teenage girls and boys. 

The program will require the participants to take part in vigorous intensive, moderate intensive, walking and sitting activities. The activity patterns will be obtained by multiplying the estimated values in Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks (METs) and activity category of each participant. The participants will then be categorized as physical inactive, moderately active or highly active depending on the individual’s total values of METs in a week. Body mass index for each participant will then be measured. They will be classified as underweight if BMI is less than 18, healthy if BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9, overweight if BMI is 25-29.9 and obese if BMI is 30 and above ( Popkin, Adairm& Ng, 2012). . 

The targeted population will consist of teenagers aged from thirteen years up to adults aged 65 years. They will be obtained through quota sampling participants from poor and well off families in urban setting. The population will be informed of the impeding study to be conducted. The researcher will get his or her consent to participate in the study and no one will be coerced into taking part on the study. Moreover, the researcher will explain that the aim of the study was to find out how food choices, amount of income, and physical activity affected their general health. To get them to participate, the program manager will assure them of privacy as much as possible. Similarly, the program manager will explain the fact that the questionnaires will be dome anonymously so that they should give the right answers without any fear of exposure. 

Measuring success 

The data will be collected using closed ended questionnaires in a quantitative study approach; quantitative method is important in this study because it will make it possible for the researcher to collect the necessary data between the two participating groups and compare them accordingly. The data needs to be quantitative to make easier comparison. The researcher also aims to examine and evaluate any possible change of negative attitudes such as change from eating junk food by the participants. Some of the health improvements include the desire to reduce BMI and general body weight. The experiment also aims to achieve reduced risk of obesity among populations. The program will use the PROCEED (Policy, Regulatory, Organizational, Constructs, Educational, Environmental and Development) model during the study. As stated, the program involves getting participants to change their behaviour, watch their body mass index and most importantly to get them adopt effective ways of shopping for healthier food stuffs. It also aims to ensure that participants develop effective living criteria and help in the quest to reduce prevalence of obesity in the current generation. 

The researcher, public health officers, and other health practitioners will be involved in the program. One incentive associated with the participation in the programme will include fully paid gym and other physical activities in one of the best physical fitness centres in the region. The clients who seriously aim to cut down and show constant seriousness will receive the package. Some of the ethical consideration involves gaining participants consents to take part in the papers. On the same note, the program manager will have to ensure utmost privacy and protection during the study. The population will take daily exercises, measure body marks and should take it to the judge for future rating and for collecting reports. The study will last for two months to be able to obtain effective results to go by. The participants will be expected at the fitness centre twice a week for two hours from five to seven in the evening. The plan to sustain the participation of the program is underway and will be taking place on an annual basis. 

References 

Alkon, A. H., Block, D., Moore, K., Gillis, C., DiNuccio, N., & Chavez, N. (2013).Food ways of the urban poor. Geoforum , 48 , 126-135. 

Bauman, A. E., Reis, R. S., Sallis, J. F., Wells, J. C., Loos, R. J., Martin, B. W., & Lancet Physical Activity Series Working Group. (2012). Correlates of physical activity: why are some people physically active and others not?. The lancet , 380 (9838), 258-271. 

Befort, C. A., Nazir, N., &Perri, M. G. (2012). Prevalence of obesity among adults from rural and urban areas of the United States: findings from NHANES (2005‐2008). The Journal of Rural Health , 28 (4), 392-397. 

Dominguez-Salas, P., Alarcón, P., Häsler, B., Dohoo, I. R., Colverson, K., Kimani-Murage, E. W& Grace, D. (2016). Nutritional characterization of low-income households of Nairobi: socioeconomic, livestock and gender considerations and predictors of malnutrition from a cross-sectional survey. BMC Nutrition , 2 (1), 47. 

Haynes-Maslow, L. (2013). A qualitative study of perceived barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption among low-income populations, North Carolina, 2011. Preventing chronic disease , 10 . 

Kavosi , E., HassanzadehRostami, Z., Kavosi, Z., Nasihatkon, A., Moghadami, M., &Heidari, M. (2014). Prevalence and determinants of undernutrition among children under six: a cross-sectional survey in Fars province, Iran. 

Kohl, H. W., Craig, C. L., Lambert, E. V., Inoue, S., Alkandari, J. R., Leetongin, G., ... & Lancet Physical Activity Series Working Group. (2012). The pandemic of physical inactivity: global action for public health. The Lancet , 380 (9838), 294-305. 

Lee, H. (2012). The role of local food availability in explaining obesity risk among young school-aged children. Social science & medicine , 74 (8), 1193-1203. 

Loopstra, R., &Tarasuk, V. (2013). The severity of household food insecurity is sensitive to change in household income and employment status among low-income families. The Journal of Nutrition , 143 (8), 1316-1323. 

Malik, V. S., Willett, W. C., & Hu, F. B. (2013). Global obesity: trends, risk factors , and policy implications. Nature Reviews Endocrinology , 9 (1), 13-27. 

Popkin, B. M., Adair, L. S., & Ng, S. W. (2012).Global nutrition transition and the pandemic of obesity in developing countries. Nutrition Reviews , 70 (1), 3-21. 

Sallis, J. F., Floyd, M. F., Rodriguez, D. A., &Saelens, B. E. (2012). The role of built environments in physical activity, obesity, and cardiovascular disease. Circulation , 125 (5), 729-737.