Low-Income Adults are Less Likely to Follow Right Weight Reduction Tips: Study

People of low- socio-economic status are less likely to follow tips for losing weight than their richer counterparts, finds a study.

Surveys in the past have debunked the theory 'obesity is less prevalent in low-income communities' and found that the risk rates are highest for women and children than men from poor households. Recently, experts from McGill University found that adults of low socio-economic status tend to ignore advice to reduce weight like eating the right amount and healthy food and indulging in regular physical activities. While poorer youths practice unhealthy and inconsistent weigh loss strategies like skipping meals, fasting and starving compared to their wealthier peers.

The study led by Lisa Kakinami from the McGill University examined data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) involving about 6,035 adults and 3,250 youngsters aged eight from four income groups (below $20,000, between $20,000 to 44,999, $45,000 to $74,999 and 75,000 or above). The researchers compared weight of participants from all groups and recorded their eating and dietary habits like intake of healthy food, junk snacks, consumption of water and weight loss strategies.

It was observed that about 50 percent of subjects with poorer incomes were less likely to eat healthy while exercising, 42 percent less likely to drink adequate amount of water and 25 percent less likely to cut down on intake of fatty snacks. The youths from low-income backgrounds were more than 2.5 times inclined to use weight loss plans against public health recommendations. The guidelines by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advise against missing out eating meals, crash dieting, practicing  sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy habits like smoking, drinking and drug abuse.

Financial constraints and limited access to right information on health and obesity are the main reasons for low-income people making use of wrong methods and shortcuts to shed excess weight. But, the study could not cite the exact logic behind choices like not drinking sufficient water. However, the results help "explicitly assess the link between poverty and actual weight loss behaviors'.

 "The new data suggest that the poorest among us, who are already disproportionately hurt by overweight and obesity, may also be wasting money on unproven and perhaps dangerous weight loss products," said Scott Kahan, director of the National Center for Weight and Wellness in Washington D.C., in a news release.

More Information is available online in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.