Gap in Life Expectancy
The article, Gap in Life Expectancy Widens for the Nation, found in the New York Times talks about how the gap of life expectancy for rich and poor Americans has grown over the years instead of decreased. The article gives a number of reasons for this, one of them being the fact that there is a gap in ”health literacy” between middle and upper classes and the lower classes. The lower classes are less likely to know about proper diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyles. This goes along with the information I found while doing my project that said those of lower incomes are more likely to be overweight or obese. I think that this group is one of the main groups that needs to be targeted with education and a means to change their lifestyle. While there is obesity in the upper and middle classes, as this article states, they are more likely to be educated and informed about living in a healthy manner. Those classes have the information and means to eat right and exercise. They have the Internet to access information on obesity, where the lower class does not have this ability. I think in order to make a difference in the rate of obesity in America, those who are most at risk for being or becoming obese should be targeted first and with the most intensity.
