I currently work with people via the phone gratis providing nutrtional and exercise tips. All I ask is their committment to start physical activity.
Dr. Hellen
800.746.0300.

Socio-economic status absolutely effects the nutrition status of the client and ourselves. When the decision is between bills being paid and hormone-free beef, one can guarantee the money goes towards the bills being paid. That's no exaggeration. I've had clients express their frustration at the cost of fresh fruits and vegetables in comparison to those of canned, even. There are the things that they want to buy and those that they can afford.

As personal trainers, we can educate our clients on how and where to make price cuts that may help improve the quality of their food purchases without breaking budget. For example, frozen foods tend to be a bit cheaper than fresh, still contain many of the nutrients and will keep for a much longer period of time. That's just one example of many!

First of all, I would be somewhat apprehensive to lend credence to ANY journal that comes from the European Union.

Most affluent Americans who make quality food choices have a "lower-cost" diet than those well with lower income levels. Meats, Veggies, Fruits and Nuts are a helluvalot less expensive than processed foods from bags and boxes. Or from Fast Food restaurants!

I don't think income has anything to do with it. Poor choices, poor planning and limited education do.

I completely disagree with the article. I doubt most trainers are going to seek out the "poor" in order to give them advice on nutrition habits. And advice on good habits does not cost a dime....but it does take common sense.

I amazed you even took time to ask those 3 foolish questions....as if it were noble to help offer services for free. Wait, I have an idea. Let's take all of our income and build the poor a McDonald's restaurant so we can feed them while giving out our free lectures.

Maybe then they will listen.

On the flip side of this. I believe that socio economic status effects the nutrition status of well-off individuals. Look at the businessman that goes to 5 or more business lunches/dinners/meetings every week. People that go out to eat regluarly are taking in well over the required number of calories each time they sit down to do business!

NUTRITION? The further you go down the rungs of the socioeconomic ladder - the younger people die. There is a four hour documentary running on PBS called "Unnatural Causes". It is a very compelling study on the topic which systematically proves that poor people on average have lower life expectancies... and that's in 1st world economies. The 3rd world is a totally different animal - I have been to rural Mozambique twice this year - average life expectancy is 38yrs... 21% of the children die before age 5. Offered only for perspective.

I think you can eat relatively healthy (maybe not all organic, chemical free but at least not junk food) and relatively cheaply if you're willing to put the time into washing, chopping and cooking whole foods. All too often though we've become accustomed to pre-packaged convenience items that are sometimes inexpensive (mac-n-cheese) and also very bad for us and that's more of a contributor to our being over weight than not being able to afford decent food. If we try to eat more healthy but still want the convenience though, then yes, it's going to cost you.

Someone develope a fastfood chain of cheaper healthy food and you become a millionair overnight....

oh... and it would have to be drive-thru

Of course it's true. Lower socio-economic status is frequently part of a cycle that not only includes fat, but poor self-esteem, lack of motivation, depression, inadequate education, boredom, hopelessness... etc... all factors which we've seen contribute to obese situations. Likewise, it becomes an ingrained pattern which is next to impossible to break.

Unfortunately, free advice/guidence will do little unless you can direct it to someone who can find a vision of things being different. Then lives can be changed, and we can be effective, but we must find a way to see/create vision in people. We must educate ourselves by analyzing our most successful clients to understand their motivation, and train ourselves to share it.

Secondly, the person we find with vision needs to pay. A creative barter system, and a firm level of commitment in one will garner more results than throwing free information at a hundred.

ron hall

Some really great and thoughtful comments made here about the wealthy some of whom live very unhealthy lives due to abundance?? and the poor who live unhealthy, due to lacking and wanting? If socioeconomic status were "the cause", wouldn't all poor people be over fat or unhealthy? For the thought of it, perhaps it is personal choice.... cigarettes? or healthy food. Canned veggies are the cheapest food ever... and still less sodium and more nutrition than McDonalds. Some veggies are better than no veggies. Thanks to everyone for sharing and giving the topic perspective.I still vote for taking responsibility, owning our decisions and making our own health.

I think it can go both ways. Poor people obviously can only afford cheap food, which often times is nutritionally lacking. Good choices, though, are often not made because of lack of guidance too.
People who can afford anything and have access to a dietician/nutritionist are also sometimes the ones who are gluttons. Party after party with fattening hors deurves, etc.

I interned in a rehab gym.I tried to get a patient , on Maidcaid, to see a dietitian.She needed to lose weight to get her knee replacement repaired. It didn't take because she was too over weight. I tried and tried to no avail, she was doomed to failure because whe couldn't get the help she needed.
I would work with a committed group of women who needed to lose weight and couln't afford a personal trainer. This gives me the idea to organize a program for women trying to get into the job market who want to improve their appearance. Dress for Success helps them find clothes to wear on interviews and to start a new job, so why not help them to improve their health and appearance.

I think the it has a degree of effect, but not the entire amount. many people who say they can't afford healthier foods, could actually afford them if they did slightly better planning and budgeting.

I am from Uk. I came from what you would concider a poor family. We could not afford to eat fast food. Not one person in our family was over weight. It all about portion control. Believe me Portions in America
are huge compared to the rest of the world.

Fast food is not cheap ( and it's usually not fast either).
Every day I see the people waiting in their cars at the drive-through of a local fast food establishment, which is about 200 yards away from my gym.
They won't even expend enough energy to walk inside to get their food.
They also don't save time at the drive-through, because it usually takes longer.
Many of the cars are high-priced types. These are not poor people. They have made some bad life-style choices, and it shows around the waist line.
Next door to this fast-food is an excellent grocery store with very good prices.
The choice is theirs, so are the consequences.

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER FOOD STAMPS? When I was in high school, I clerked at a Wal-Mart Supercenter in a rural part of Tennessee. You should see the things people buy with food stamps - also known as OUR tax dollars. Now part of it is lack of education and will to make proper food choices, but a large part of it is price points and convinence. Many times, processed foods are on discount specials and seem like a cheaper alternative. Plus, it is a lot easier to pop in the microwave and WHA-LA! A "tasty" cheesy, beefy bean burrito is ready to fill you. And might I add, I still live is small town USA and our ion of fresh fruits and veggies is sadly lacking.
So, yes, I believe there is a link between socio-economic status and body fat percentage. However, I also know that if you can have your nails, toes, and hair done on a regular basis, you can afford me as your trainer if you WANTED to have assistance. The only time I would consider volunteering my services and experience is for children.

As a personal trainer/ILST, I work mostly with clients that have brain injuries and are a part of this socio-economic status and in the "SYSTEM". It can be very frustrating to them and myself because as much as I motivate and encourage them to eat healthy, stay active and all the other knowledge, ultimatley it is up to them to do the work. You can give anyone tons of information and different exercise but you can't make them do it! The old saying goes, :You can take a horse to water, but you can't make him drink." is very, very true and some of my clients are very large. I still contniue to work with them, encourage and motivate and pray that they get it.

I agree that socio-economic status plays a part in an individuals' diet, but that should not be an excuse for the unhealthy state of our society either. As long as there are vast numbers of fast food chains, restaurants rich in high calorie entree's and a plain overall abundance of junk anywhere you turn, it will continue to be this way. I am more than willing to offer my services to anyone truly dedicated on making a change for a reasonable price given their budget and necessary expenses. I don't think free advice or training is the answer either as part of the reason someone will uphold their committment is because it's costing them money if they don't. We've all had clients that couldn't even keep their committments that they've payed money for, so how do you think we are gonna make life-changes to those who would receive it for free?

No. Gluttony and Sloth fat. Anyone ever see a cruise ship disgorging a load of middle class Americans? Ever see some motivated inner city kids playing sports? Personal responsibility is the sole factor. Stop making excuses for fat, lazy, and undisciplined individuals.

I am going to have to disagree with the response someone posted about fresh food being much less expensive that packaged foods. I am a personal trainer and have been for years, and there have been times when I could not afford the foods I wanted to get, either. I've had to make 3 chicken breasts and a box of wheat pasta last over a week. And part of this may be because I live in a desert, but my favorite veggies are broccoli ($1.00/lb on SALE, normally around $1.59/lb) and spinach ($3.00/bag or about $1.49 for a fresh head). My fave fruits are blueberries ($3-$5 per carton), strawberries ($3-$5 per carton), and apples ($1+ per pound). When canned fruit is priced at 2 for a dollar, and frozen veggies and canned veggies are 2 or 3 for a dollar, I've had to choose those. When soup is on sale for a couple cans for a dollar, I've been forced to choose that over fresh meat and the wheat pasta and bread I usually eat. Soup is not too bad for you, but it is higher in sodium that many other foods. And, although I usually do not buy anything like macaroni or boxed foods, these items are usually 3 to 5 boxes for a dollar, and people will choose these foods, especially if they have a family to feed. Fortunately, I do not. I only have to feed myself right now. I agree with you in that you can eat very healthily on a limited budget, but at a certain point, when there is a choice of eating every day or eating well, people will choose to eat every day. Socioeconomic status does, to some degree, play an important role in some of the problems we face with obesity and heart disease. Wealthy people do eat pretty lousy when they eat out a lot, but at that point it is a choice, not a necessity. Some of the most fit and healthily-fed people I know make over 100K per year, but they CHOOSE to eat well. Wealthy people can often choose. Sometimes others cannot.