The affordability of unhealthy foods, such as fast food and junk food, is often lower compared to healthier alternatives. Consequently, individuals with low incomes frequently opt for less nutritious options. The inability of many people to afford wholesome meals stems from their earnings solely covering essential living costs. By reducing the cost of healthy foods, everyone would be able to access them.
Eating nutritious meals comes at a higher price compared to consuming unhealthy foods. If the cost of healthy food were reduced, there would be numerous advantages including improved health. A common belief is that opting for healthier options costs approximately $1.50 more per day, which amounts to roughly $550 annually for an individual. Considering this expenditure for one person, it is evident that the expenses would be much higher for larger families. Many individuals aspire to enhance their diet, but the cost often poses a barrier. When
...individuals are busy with work and find themselves bombarded by advertisements promoting discounted meals like Wendy's "4 for $4," they often choose the cheaper option instead of a salad.
Advertisers prioritize selling high-calorie meals to maximize profits, despite the existence of healthier alternatives. Studies have shown that diets comprising fruits, vegetables, nuts, and fish - considered healthier options - tend to be more expensive compared to processed foods. This cost disparity is due to food policies emphasizing cheaper, mass-produced commodities. Consequently, a complex network encompassing farming, storage, transportation, processing, manufacturing, and marketing has been established to maximize industry profit from highly processed food products. To effectively address this issue, researchers propose establishing a similar infrastructure dedicated to supporting the production of healthier foods. Such an approach could potentially
improve their availability and lower their prices for families seeking better dietary habits and reduced risk of diseases leading to premature death. Consuming solely unhealthy foods without incorporating low-calorie options can result in obesity. Since 1975, global obesity rates have almost tripled.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016 there were over 1.9 billion adults aged 18 or older who were overweight, with more than 650 million classified as obese. Obesity and overweight are leading causes of death in many countries, surpassing underweight-related deaths. Additionally, the report reveals that over 100 million American adults currently have diabetes or prediabetes.
Approximately 9.4% of the US population suffers from type 2 diabetes as a result of an unhealthy diet and consumption of unhealthy foods. A significant portion of society faces health issues such as high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease due to the expensive nature of healthy food options. Despite doctors' recommendations to improve eating habits, individuals find it challenging to do so when food producers fail to reduce costs and healthcare professionals do not provide necessary resources. To address this problem, we can initiate a petition that urges for lower prices on nutritious foods. A survey conducted at Del Valle High School, which involved 30 participants, demonstrated unanimous support for affordable access to healthy options. Interestingly, out of these respondents, 10 were unaware of the price disparity between healthy and unhealthy foods.
The survey revealed that most participants were taken aback by the fact that buying healthier foods costs an extra $1.50 and around $600 annually for one person. However, when asked if they would consider purchasing healthy foods at discounted rates, 25
out of 30 individuals responded affirmatively. Thus, it can be inferred that a considerable number of people would embrace healthy eating habits as evidenced by the favorable votes from 25 out of 30 individuals in favor of buying healthier foods at lower prices. By initiating this petition, there is a possibility to enhance people's well-being by helping them steer clear of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
Preventing health problems is a way to improve individuals' quality of life and financial situation as it helps them avoid spending money on medications and hospital bills. While many believe that personal food choices are the main cause of health issues, only a minority actually make unhealthy choices. However, some people struggle to prioritize their health due to the expensive cost of dieting and healthy foods. As a result, they often give up and opt for consuming junk food and fast food instead. If producers offered low-calorie foods at affordable prices, more people would be motivated to purchase these products. This arrangement would be beneficial for both consumers and producers.
Through the initiation of a petition, we can empower those who cannot advocate for themselves to express their need for affordable and nutritious food. While it may not provide a complete solution, a petition is a crucial step towards reducing the number of health-related deaths caused by high-calorie foods. Lowering prices can lead to decreased obesity rates, lower prevalence of diabetes, improved blood pressure levels, and reduced instances of heart diseases in individuals.
