Publication Date

2022

Document Type

Book

Description

The relationship between income level, obesity, and fast-food restaurant availability can give us an insight into why people are more likely to choose food that is more readily available to them in terms of location, affordability, and general convenience. The consumption of fast food as an alternative to home-cooked meals is a common practice that is usually seen in mostly lower-income populations because of its affordability. In order to see if there was a correlation between the availability of fast-food restaurants and the obesity rates of various towns and cities of Broome County, especially within the lower-income town, I compiled data on the number of fast-food restaurants in each town with the town’s obesity rates to see if there was a correlation. I compared the data from nineteen different cities and towns of Broome County, including data about the obesity rates, income levels, and the number of fast-food restaurants in each region. I expect to find that the data collected will show that as the number of fast-food restaurants goes up, so will the obesity rates within each town or city. Additionally, as both of these variables go up, the income level of each town or city will go down. This study can help us understand why it might be important to create more low-price meal options that are as readily available, affordable, and yet more nutritious for lower-income families to choose in order to avoid the health risks that come with the fast-food industry.

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Analyzing the Access to Unhealthy Food Sources in Relation to Obesity and Income Levels in Broome County

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