Think you’re thin because you work out hard and eat (mostly) right? Or maybe you think you just have good genes?
Maybe it’s because you’re rich.
A study in Seattle showed that 22% of people making less that $15,000 a year are obese (defined as having a BMI over 29) compared with just 15% of those making $50,000 or more a year. If you crack six digits your chance of being obese drops to under 10%. The Seattle study showed that income is the single strongest predictor of body weight. That’s right – how much money you make has more influence over that little number on the scale than gender, race, education, urban vs. rural living and a host of other factors.
This just blows my mind. Although it makes more sense when I started really thinking about it. People with more money can afford to buy organic blueberries (antioxidants! heart healthy!! no pesticides!!! low-cal!!! high fiber!!!) for $4.25 a pint and said pint won’t even fill you up. Whereas you can get an entire meal’s worth of calories for $3 at McD’s (mineral-free! fat-full!! mystery ingredients!!! tastes great, more filling!!!). Richer people can afford gym memberships, personal trainers and workout clothes and gadgets so they can keep on strengthening, toning, sculpting and sweating no matter what the weather is like outside. The rich are typically also more educated and therefore have better access to the current research (wheeee!) about exercise and nutrition.
Notice here that “rich” is not defined in Trumpian proportions but simply making more than $50,000. Don’t get me wrong – that’s a lot of money – but it’s solidly middle class. It doesn’t seem right to me that money can buy health but it certainly seems to make it a lot more attainable.
And hey, if you think money can’t buy thin, then just check out the Spice Girls Reunion tour:) (Although I gotta ‘fess up – I’m seriously in awe of Geri Halliwell’s abs. Wow.)
It does make sense.I’m constantly amazed by how expensive fruit and vegetables get this time of year and how cheap hot-dogs, and white pasta, and junky cereal are at all times.
Hey Charlotte- I’ve read every one of your blogs and I love them- I just wish I had time to read some of the great articles you post but I appreciate the recaps. I think that one of the big reasons that rich people are skinnier is time. When I didnt work and could spend 2-3 hours at the gym with you guys, I did great and it was the first time Ive lost weight in years, but now that I’m working full time, I have to wake up at 5:00 to squeeze in an hour before work so Im not getting nearly the same time in the gym and rather than maintaining, Im gaining again- It’s so not fair. I watched Oprah last night and all these people lost 100-200 lbs by walking every day!! Have you read any articles that talk about how your body adjusts to your workouts and then you have to keep it up just to maintain? Maybe it would be better to never have achieved a high level of fitness because then my body would be satisfied with a reasonable ammount of workout (like the recommended 30 min a day) I dont really beleive that but in theory… I wish I had the money so I didnt have to work and could spend more time on my body (and buy those blueberries) On a more exciting note- I found a Turbo class in utah which I did this morning and LOVED! I was actually good too ( i was the front row power-jacker)and it made me feel like we’re not so far away. I miss my workout buddies. Also, I was wondering if you could post an example of a cardio-circut weight routine. Thanks I love you!
Of COURSE you are the front-row power-jacker, girl!! That’s just how you roll:) Oh, how I miss you !!! You make an excellent point about how rich(er) people have more leisure time to devote to personal pursuits than do those in a lower socioeconomic strata. I’m sorry that your weight isn’t following orders but I’m so proud of you for getting up at o’dark to squeeze in your workouts! Hopefully you are realizing other gains from them (increased energy, stress relief etc.) to keep you motivated. But you’re right – it’s not fair. And hey – I’ll get researching your adapatation question ASAP. LOVE YOU, BECKY!!!
Chilerocks,
This might seem like a kind of random comment (because I have nothing to back it up – no idea where I read this!) but I do remember reading once, a while ago, that one needs to exercise 30 minutes a day to maintain their original weight, 60 minutes to lose weight, and 90 minutes to maintain the new weight.
I know this is kind of different from what you’re saying, but I think the principles are the same. Your body adapts to what it becomes used to, and it really does seem unfair! I have increased the amount that I exercise steadily over the last 6 or 7 years and am now at the point that, according to any “calculator” sight, I should be able to eat like 3000+ calories a day without weight gain. Unfortunately, that is not the way that it has turned out. My body does not work that way, and I hate it, and it’s not fair. But that’s life, I guess. Some of us will always just have to work harder.
(Sorry that last part kind of turned into self-pity; I was really aiming for more of a commiseration.)
Alex – great point! Like you, for the amount that I work out I “should” be able to eat 3600 cals/day and maintain but I eat about half that and anything over makes me gain. I’ve been cursing my metabolism for years but I think you are right – eventually you just say “well, this is what my body does” and move on from there. Your 30-60-90 thing is interesting. I’m going to look it up. I’ll let you know what I find out, girls! Thanks to all 3 of you for your comments, you really got the cogs in my head turning. I feel so…alive! So alive that I’m now going to bed;) Kisses!
Charlotte,
I found where I originally read the 30-60-90 – over on the Eat Like Me blog. If you go to the Q&A section – http://www.self.com/health/blogs/
eatlikeme/answers_to_your_questions/index.html
– about 1/5 to 1/4 of the way down, the blogger wrote “The recommendations are 30-minutes per day to maintain weight, 60-minutes to lose weight and 90-minutes to maintain lost weight.” Granted, she does not cite a source (so no idea if it’s true), but she is a registered dietitian, and I think that may have been part of the research that came out before the most recent release of the government’s dietary guidelines. I think it makes a certain amount of sense, but man there are some days that it just sucks.
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