# How do women in poverty become obese? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 12, 2017, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123 "2017-07-12T20:14:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/81 "2017-07-13T16:53:33Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > It looks like typical Heritage Foundation ‘clever’ selection of data. The bottom 20% include people on disability, people who should be on disability, people on low SS retirement, and the like. People who manage to work 2-3 part time jobs likely stay in the bottom 40%, but not the bottom 20% they cherry picked. So it’s probably technically a true number, but misleading, and parts of the article are saying ‘these people with severe disabilities and little to no treatment should just magically get 40-hour-a-week jobs’. I posted actual data from USCB and BLS. If you have better data or an actual analysis, let’s see them. ---
**Author:** ![Broomstick](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/broomstick/32/246_2.png) [@Broomstick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Broomstick)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/82 "2017-07-13T16:57:53Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > It would seem to me that if clean water issues are affecting poor people, then they would use the SNAP benefits to purchase, I don’t know, bottled water instead of soda. As I mentioned, plain bottled water is not as heavily promoted, advertised, or featured as sodas are. There are bottled waters available… in the soda section… at wildly inflated prices. There are people who have _worked in my store for years_ who not only do not know where the tap is for people to fill their own containers with clean water for a modest price, they do not even know we _offer_ that. Instead, everyone knows where the huge, mid-aisle displays of soft drinks are located. But why should poor people be any more immune to advertising and promotion than anyone else? I _wish_ my company would do more to promote drinking just plain water, but they don’t. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/83 "2017-07-13T17:14:55Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I realize you and **manson1972** get your jollies by misrepresenting what other people say and attempting to make caricatures of your perceived opposition but some of us actually want to have a real discussion here. Grown ups recognize that some problems are multi-factorial in origin. I’m sorry, but I’m fairly sure I haven’t misrepresented what other people are saying. Here’s one quote from this thread: “impoverished people often are working long hours at low-wage job(s), and don’t have time or energy to prepare good meals” And another: “Whoever compiled it somehow missed the millions of people who work two or even three part-time jobs” And one more: -" lack of time due to working multiple jobs" And I resent that fact that you slyly called me a child in General Questions. Or I would if I actually cared what you think. Grown-ups have conversations that require people to take responsibility for their actions. Not simply shove personal choices off to “poor advertising” or “don’t know how to cook” or even more ludicrous reasons like “work 2-3 jobs” or “don’t have a stove” when I’ve seen the same stats linked time and time again that show that it just isn’t true. Do you personally know someone who is poor who is working 3 jobs for more than 60 hours a week? Does anyone on this message board? If you do, let me know. I will personally pay their rent for a month so they have time to look for a better job, or cook a few meals, or even learn how to cook. Or I’ll buy them a stove if they don’t have one. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![Orwell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/dfb087/32.png) [@Orwell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orwell)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/84 "2017-07-13T17:29:09Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > I realize you and **manson1972** get your jollies by misrepresenting what other people say and attempting to make caricatures of your perceived opposition but some of us actually want to have a real discussion here. Grown ups recognize that some problems are multi-factorial in origin. Oh, the “grown ups” are having a discussion. I see. Grown ups are apparently allowed to present absurd and unsupported opinions with no questions asked. I’ll keep that in mind in the future. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/85 "2017-07-13T17:35:19Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > They don’t include people working under the table, but working short-term is included in the definition of “full-time, year-round”. I think we don’t have the same definition of short-term. I’ve known companies which did things such as fire people for vacation periods to avoid having to pay them benefits, and people who worked two months, then spent six weeks unemployed, then got another three months job… Heck, I’ve been in the second group, and I wasn’t considered “employed full-time, year-round”. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/86 "2017-07-13T18:17:09Z")
At least in San Jose area, in CA, I tried to live on “aid” for food. Of course I didnt get food stamps or anything. But I lived within the parameters for a month. The food stamps dont go very far, but you wont starve. However, added to those I found: Several parks where you could get a meal- bean burritos, cold sandwiches, a milk or juice box or water, and fresh fruit. The Diocese handed out a box with rice, beans, government cheese and some other stuff. Another local church handed out day old bread from Trader Joes\* and large bags of onions and potatoes. Plenty of food, should you have a way to cook it. (it wasnt uncommon to find bags of rice and beans discarded nearby). - the church insisted I take a bunch of loaves with me, otherwise they’d have to toss them. I left a donation, of course. (and thus i try to shop at trader Joes, since that was a nice gesture) So, at least in a area like that you will not starve, nor get hungry and yes, you can put on weight. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/87 "2017-07-13T18:26:54Z")
> [@Broomstick](#): > > Or they’re buff from walking/biking everywhere instead of driving/riding, and getting odd jobs in manual labor whenever they can. > > It’s like bitching about poor people with cellphones. Want them to work? Well, these days having a cellphone and/or computer access is pretty much a requirement for getting work in many places, and those phones may be second or third hand refurbished models, not the latest and greatest. A cell phone is cheaper than a cellphone and a computer together, so a lot of poor folks do all their computer stuff on their phone. It’s how they keep in touch with people, call for help, look up stuff like directions to get someplace. > > It’s like bitching about what food they put in their carts at the grocery store. > > People are just so damn nosy and judgmental. And many people these days have cell phones only, no land line. It’s cheaper that way unless you have a relatively high-end smartphone, especially if you don’t also have cable or home internet. It’s been rare for me to do a new client consultation in years for anyone with a landline. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/88 "2017-07-13T18:38:19Z")
> [@Contemplation](#): > > I notice that homeless people, both men and women (though mostly men) are very skinny. However, people that can barely afford to have some place to live in are more likely to become obese if they’re a woman. > Poor men are not more likely to become fat than wealthy men. Poor women are more likely to be fat than wealthy women. If we assume it’s true that poor men typically stay trim while poor women gain weight, it could be due to the types of jobs available to each. A poor man will likely be doing strenuous physical labor, while a woman would likely have a less physical job. That would typically mean that the man is burning more calories on a regular basis than the woman was. ---
**Author:** ![Ruken](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f475e1/32.png) [@Ruken](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruken)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/89 "2017-07-13T18:42:51Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I think we don’t have the same definition of short-term. I’ve known companies which did things such as fire people for vacation periods to avoid having to pay them benefits, and people who worked two months, then spent six weeks unemployed, then got another three months job… Heck, I’ve been in the second group, and I wasn’t considered “employed full-time, year-round”. BLS considers workers year-round if they worked 50 to 52 weeks ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/90 "2017-07-13T19:00:56Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > I think we don’t have the same definition of short-term. I’ve known companies which did things such as fire people for vacation periods to avoid having to pay them benefits, and people who worked two months, then spent six weeks unemployed, then got another three months job… Heck, I’ve been in the second group, and I wasn’t considered “employed full-time, year-round”. I think it’s the same definition. The statistic is that 74% of all poor households in the US do not have a full-time, year-round worker. Households in the US with people who work two- or three-month gigs may or may not be poor, but they are households with people who do not work full-time, year-round. Also keep in mind that the statistic is NOT that 74% of all households without a full-time, year-round worker are poor. My parents’ household, for instance, does not have anyone who works full-time year-round, and they certainly aren’t poor. Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![mmmiiikkkeee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/edb3f5/32.png) [@mmmiiikkkeee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mmmiiikkkeee)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/91 "2017-07-13T19:34:46Z")
> [@filmore](#): > > If we assume it’s true that poor men typically stay trim while poor women gain weight, it could be due to the types of jobs available to each. A poor man will likely be doing strenuous physical labor, while a woman would likely have a less physical job. That would typically mean that the man is burning more calories on a regular basis than the woman was. How active people are or how physically strenuous their jobs are has little to do with putting on or losing weight. [This](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-exercise-paradox/) study which has been cited here before on other threads indicates that whether a person is active all day or sits in an office chair all day they burn about the same number of calories. You can’t actually jog off an extra slice of pizza nor do you require more food to be able to unload trucks all day rather than read documents. ---
**Author:** ![Corry\_El](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ecae2f/32.png) [@Corry\_El](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Corry_El)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/92 "2017-07-13T19:38:38Z")
> [@Pantastic](#): > > It looks like typical Heritage Foundation ‘clever’ selection of data. The bottom 20% include people on disability, people who should be on disability, people on low SS retirement, and the like. People who manage to work 2-3 part time jobs likely stay in the bottom 40%, but not the bottom 20% they cherry picked. So it’s probably technically a true number, but misleading, and parts of the article are saying ‘these people with severe disabilities and little to no treatment should just magically get 40-hour-a-week jobs’. But there’s no way to torture the statistics to confess to some people’s preferred myth that poor people in the US typically work a lot of hours. That’s just not so in general. Obviously _some_ do, most don’t, and fewer do than people at higher levels of the socio-econ chain. The problem is often when moralizing and counter-moralizing get in the way of examining basic facts. For example, another factual problem is how SS Disability Benefits has tended to morph into a long term unemployment program. If we hold off on moralizing about that for a bit, we can recognize that saying ‘disabled’ people shouldn’t count when saying the poor are underemployed is partly just semantics. Again, recognizing that some people are truly disabled, just like some poor people work 2 or 3 jobs. Just a significant % of ‘disabled’ people are really people with poor employability and the same ailments people used to work despite. And a small % of poor people (or anyone else) actually work multiple jobs adding to up to more than full time. Higher paid people often work more than ‘full time’ at a single job. Hours worked is an increasing function of pay per hour in general in today’s economy. Which again aside from moralizing is not a shocking outcome. Low pay, less marginal income per extra hour to begin with, public support programs which tend to cut out when you make more money often resulting in relative effective high marginal tax rates for working poor when counting the impact on ‘means testing’, often regulatory driven stuff which tends to make employers not want paid per hour people working more than full time, and the fact that actually having separate employers in separate part time jobs adding up to lots of hours is a bunch of balls to juggle. It’s not that common, though not freakishly rare. Whereas if stats are missing people who have a near full time job and work for a few bucks off the books here and there… that doesn’t really bolster the argument of ‘not enough time’ as explanation for pretty pervasive self-harming behavior by poor people. And does anybody _really_ believe to begin with ‘not enough time’ is much of the reason? Again without it being who is the good guy and the bad guy, but just being realistic. ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/93 "2017-07-13T19:52:10Z")
> [@Ambivalid](#): > > Home Ec? WTF? I’m approaching 40 (37) and I nor anyone I know has taken Home Ec. How long has it been since such classes have been taught _anywhere_? I hear “home ec” and I think of I Love Lucy. lol > > You never know, though. Freaky genetics don’t discriminate socioeconomically. I know this homeless man in Flint, who has been homeless for decades, who is fucking shredded like a MMA pro. And I swear to god he is homeless and actually mentally disturbed somehow (I’m not sure exactly how). He was given a month’s membership to my former gym (I’m not sure of the specifics there it was just mentioned in casual conversation) and the body he had on display was amazing. And he was fucking homeless. And honestly seemed like a drug addict (although I admit that is speculation). This was like a decade ago and I just saw him walking down the street in Flint yesterday. Until a few years ago, I saw him walking all over the city all the time. He was still as dirty and weatherbeaten as ever. And from what I could see in briefly passing him by, still fucking ripped. If he had the resources and desire, he could definitely be a top tier bodybuilder. But 99.9 of the time, superb physical fitness is probably a sign of a pretty decent, non-homeless standard of life, you’re right. > > Unless you are a genetic anomaly like the guy I describe above, you don’t get buff from walking and biking. Especially if you lack the proper nutrition to support your activity. But there are exceptions. We also have a ripped dude who’s sort of locally famous. He’s homeless but he does a lot of day labor; he’s always dancing and rockin’ them Daisy Dukes and gives exactly zero fucks. Oddly, I found [a picture of him](https://i.redd.it/voac8zy9ndpy.jpg) on Reddit. He goes by Dog West. One day I aspire to be as confident. ---
**Author:** ![Flyer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/flyer/32/7298_2.png) [@Flyer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flyer)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/94 "2017-07-13T19:59:44Z")
> [@mmmiiikkkeee](#): > > How active people are or how physically strenuous their jobs are has little to do with putting on or losing weight. [This](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-exercise-paradox/) study which has been cited here before on other threads indicates that whether a person is active all day or sits in an office chair all day they burn about the same number of calories. You can’t actually jog off an extra slice of pizza nor do you require more food to be able to unload trucks all day rather than read documents. This is a perfect example of garbage results. How do I know it’s garbage? **Because it contradicts reality.** There are numerous studies that show that not only do certain types of exercise increase metabolism rate, but also that the rate remains elevated for a length of time afterwards. Take any reasonably-typical office worker, put that person in a job where he’s moving around all day long, and as long as he doesn’t change his eating habits, he **WILL** lose weight. It’s that simple. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/95 "2017-07-13T20:04:15Z")
> [@Flyer](#): > > Take any reasonably-typical office worker, put that person in a job where he’s moving around all day long, and as long as he doesn’t change his eating habits, he **WILL** lose weight. It’s that simple. Something about this seems wrong. What if his normal eating habit is 4000 calories a day? He may gain weight at a lower rate, but he won’t be losing weight. ---
**Author:** ![filmore](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/7993a0/32.png) [@filmore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/filmore)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/96 "2017-07-13T20:18:12Z")
> [@mmmiiikkkeee](#): > > How active people are or how physically strenuous their jobs are has little to do with putting on or losing weight. [This](https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-exercise-paradox/) study which has been cited here before on other threads indicates that whether a person is active all day or sits in an office chair all day they burn about the same number of calories. You can’t actually jog off an extra slice of pizza nor do you require more food to be able to unload trucks all day rather than read documents. I can’t get to the whole article, but it seems it’s more about comparing light activity to being sedentary. Typical light office work may not really make a difference. The few extra calories you burn by walking around can easily be mitigated by your body lowering your metabolism at a later time. But a job where you’re climbing around a roof or hauling around cement bags is essentially like real exercise. Many day labor jobs will be doing that sort of grunt work which burns a lot of calories. ---
**Author:** ![qfo\_jb2013](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/c57346/32.png) [@qfo\_jb2013](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/qfo_jb2013)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/97 "2017-07-13T21:43:15Z")
> [@bardos](#): > > Many moons ago, through agricultural subsidies, the US government made a commitment to supply cheap food to its population, said cheap food being almost totally carbohydrates and trans fats based on liquid vegetable oils. This is what causes obesity. Poorer folks, when they feel the pangs of hunger, opt to fill their bellies rather than eat for health, an option they do not really have. > > EBT: An estimated 15% of the US population is on food stamps. This government “handout” is actually beneficial to the farming industry as it works as a kind of hidden subsidy to increases sales of certain products, usually the ones that fill you up fast, i.e carbs and trans fats. > > The food stamp card, the EBT card, appears to be a different color and design in each state, but is very distinctive. Easily recognizable at checkout. I seem to recall reading it was also the ‘war on poverty’ under Johnson some 1964-era times. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/98 "2017-07-13T21:51:02Z")
> [@Orwell](#): > > Nice to see such logic at work. > [@Broomstick](#): > > I realize you and **manson1972** get your jollies by misrepresenting what other people say and attempting to make caricatures of your perceived opposition but some of us actually want to have a real discussion here. Grown ups recognize that some problems are multi-factorial in origin. **Moderating** Let’s avoid making the argument personal. [QUOTE=manson1972] And I resent that fact that you slyly called me a child in General Questions. Or I would if I actually cared what you think. [/QUOTE] > [@Orwell](#): > > Oh, the “grown ups” are having a discussion. I see. Grown ups are apparently allowed to present absurd and unsupported opinions with no questions asked. I’ll keep that in mind in the future. If you believe someone has insulted you, you should report it rather than responding to it. No warnings issued, but everybody needs to dial it back and not engage in personal remarks about other posters. If you want to do that, the Pit is the place for it. Colibri General Questions Moderator ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/99 "2017-07-13T23:30:27Z")
> [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > Healthy food – fresh vegetables & fruit, etc. – is quite expensive compared to high-calorie ‘junk’ food. In these threads, it is often asserted that many poor people in the U.S. are obese because “they can’t afford healthy food.” I do not believe this is true for two reasons: 1. Generic staples such as poultry, beans, rice, and potatoes are healthy and _cheap_. 2. _Lots_ of middle class people are also obese. Why is that the case? Since they have money, are they obese for a different reason vs. poor people? The cold, hard truth is that poor obese people are fat for the same reason as middle class obese people… _they love to eat high-calorie foods_. You can give them healthy food for free, and they’ll just throw it in the trash. > [@t-bonham@scc.net](#): > > …preparing meals from such food takes more time than tossing a frozen pizza into the oven – impoverished people often are working long hours at low-wage job(s), and don’t have time or energy to prepare good meals. Many poor people work very few hours, or no hours at all. They have an incredible amount of time on their hands. ---
**Author:** ![Cartooniverse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cartooniverse/32/3084_2.png) [@Cartooniverse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartooniverse)\ **Post date:** [July 13, 2017, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123/100 "2017-07-13T23:39:37Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Sure, if you’re rich enough to afford the name brand stuff… Some of us look back fondly to the era of [No Frills branded foods](https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1978/06/22/big-food-chain-selling-no-frill-products-in-area/4c5b7c62-3a67-48e5-ad2e-943e51379f17/?utm_term=.27cc4106aeca). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-women-in-poverty-become-obese/791123.md?page=6)