If so many people are really so called "poor" in the USA why are they either fat or can afford drugs?

Answer 1

The people that do drugs are poor because they spend all their money on their drugs Some of the fat people are poor b/c the sit at home and live off our government and don't do anything so they just sit at home and build up on fat. Its all really sad truly!!!

Answer 2

There are many poor people who are overweight because of their poverty.
The poor cannot easily afford a proper, healthy diet -- nutritious food is much more expensive than some pre-packaged goods that one can buy cheaply and quickly. If you have only a very limited amount of money to spend, you are naturally going to purchase what is the most amount of food for the least amount of money.
Many people who are poor and overweight have medical problems which may cause their weight problems, but because of their poverty, cannot afford the appropriate medical care and/or prescriptions.
It's certainly true that certain forms of exercise are free to everyone, but if you are poor and live in the hood, you really put yourself at risk by attempting to walk, run, or bike in your area. And if you have a medical problem or disabilty, that may not be reasonable anyhow.
As far as affording drugs, not every poor or overweight person is using. Street drugs are cheap and addictive. They are also a common coping device for people who are overwhelmed by situations and circumstances that they feel are beyond their control.

Answer 3

Unhealthy food is generally very inexpensive. Most of these poor neighborhoods have stores but these stores don't stock fresh vegetables and fruits. It's basically processed foods which are relatively cheap. The better stores are generally not in those neighbors thus a poor person can't drive to these other markets so they get what they can. Some poor people are fat because they like to eat a lot of junk food..again..very cheap to get.

As far as the drugs go, I really don't know but I suspect that drugs are probably cheap also.

Answer 4

I grew up in California and live in a fairly affluent area. Several years ago, circumstances brought me to a logging town in Washington, that can only be described as "Jerry Springer-esque", and I lived there for 4 years. Many fat, poor people there, and a lot of them were on drugs. I wondered about it myself, so I did some personal research. I was pretty blunt with the 'natives' and straight up asked them why they don't clean up, get off their butts, and DO something! The answer is sad, and what is sadder is that it is universal, from rural towns to inner cities.. Basically, when employment gives people self-respect. Many of these people grew up in environments (whether family, neighbors, peers) where one is not pushed to succeed for various reasons. In many towns, it is because there has always been a supply of blue-collar jobs for generations, so why get an advanced degree? When these blue-collar jobs dissapear, then you have people who are stuck where they are with very few options, cannot afford to move, and do not have the education, experience, confidence, or drive to change their situation. Day in and day out this way of life takes it's toll, and many turn to drugs and/or alcohol for an escape. As far as people being fat, I also found that these people are so depressed that excercise is the last thing on their to-do list. Let's face it; food is cheap. Vegetables are cheap. It does not cost more to make healthy food at home than eat out. Depressed people do not want to excercise and they want "comfort food" which is high in fat and calories. The children of these people grow up in this environment and it seems normal to them, so it becomes a pattern.

People like these are poor because we live in a capitalist society that does not concern itself with people who may not have the advantages others have. A society that assumes that everyone can get their slice of the pie if they work hard enough. What is not taken into consideration is the depressing effect things like lay-offs (Ford, anyone?) bad regional economies, and environments have on a person's self-esteem and motivation.
I learned that being poor, fat, and on drugs could really happen to any one of us if we found ourselves in some of the situations that surround the less fortunate in this country. The question is, what can be done about it?

Think about that next time you buy a foreign car or shop at Wal-"made in china"-Mart.

Answer 5

Fattening food and drugs are cheap. Go to MacDonald's. You can get 2 double cheeseburgers for 2 bucks. Go to a health food store and buy some high grade, wild buffalo meat with proper omega 3/6 fat ratios and some fresh vegetables and it might cost you 15 bucks for a proper and very healthy dinner.

A giant bag of chips that contains thousands of calories costs 3 bucks. A container of yogurt and some granola costs about the same but what is the average person going to buy and eat? The yogurt snack has a way better macronutrient ratio but the normal person is going to chow on the chips.

There is a prominent person in the fitness industry that I will paraphrase. He has millionaire clients that pull into his facility in Ferarri's and complain that it's too expensive to eat organic, healthy foods. It's kind of hard to point fingers at poor people for eating unhealthy when rich people hate to spend the extra dough on healthy foods.

Plus poor people (and this is a generalization) probably watch more TV and are more prone to see ads for crappy food and also more apt to buy cheap crappy food.

Answer 6

You are one of the fortunate ones that has never had to go to one of the many Food Pantries for assistance. If you had you would understand that what you eat effects your weight as much as how much you eat.

I operated a Food Pantry in Galveston, Texas that provided one week of groceries to over 3000 families a year. We were the only Pantry in the city that made sure that the families got a balanced diet. You will find that the food distributed to the poor are mostly starches. Pantries distribute what they can get donated and most of the foods donated are Pasta, Potatoes, Beans, etc. Meat is a rarity.

The Drug problem is one of the major root causes of poverty in America. You seem to be implying that the number of poor are less than reported because of the number of people addicted to drug and that is absurd. Many people are poor as a direct result of drugs. Drug problems often result from being in a state that seems hopeless. One problem feeds off the other.

Many families in America are not receiving assistance but when they go to the market they must purchase food that is cheap and makes large portions. What are they going to buy but potatoes, pasta and beans.

It is unfortunate that there are many in America like you that have absolutely no conception of what causes poverty, obesity and the drug epidemic in America and until our society does we will continue to be plagued by the societal problems produced by them.

Answer 7

malnutrition and health problems can cause the metabolism and other funtions of the body to malfunction changing how the body stores fat.

Also, drug use is just as common among rich as with poor. However, drug quality changes. A lot of poor people buy "garbage" drugs made from household cleaners etc that are cheap to make and buy. Some people go into prostitution or thievery to support their drug habbits (not all sex workers or thieves are drug addicts.)

Answer 8

Hello, Well the food some can afford is not the best to eat.They are not able to shop for fresh veggies every week,they have x amount of money and thats it.As for MEDS there are places to help with them or there should be. If we had good people in OUR goverment we would not have POOR people.

Answer 9

Being fat isn't a matter of how much you eat, It's a matter of what you eat. Mcdonalds, and hostess snack cakes are not too expenseive. As far as drugs are concerned, some of them committ crimes to pay for them, or buy them on the black market. Don't allow your perceptions to be controlled by the media. By the way, if we lived in Europe, I suppose we'd all be skinny . You're not known for your culinary delights

Answer 10

They "manage" to afford drugs to escape the harsh reality of their circumstances. They're fat becuase they eat a high starch affordable diet. Starch kills the hunger pangs without delivering needed proteins and vitamins.