LA Times: As income rises, so does fast-food consumption, study finds

[Fumesucker]

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/nationnow/2011/11/middle-class-the-poor-fast-food.html

The conventional wisdom goes something like this: Obesity rates are skyrocketing among the poorest Americans, therefore fast-food restaurants must be to blame.

But a new study by a professor at UC Davis' medical school has found that it's Americans with salaries at the higher end of the spectrum -- in some cases as high as $80,000 to $90,000 -- who are driving fast-food consumption at the likes of McDonald's and Burger King.

"There's a strong correlation been income and obesity," professor Paul Leigh told The Times. "And so people say, 'Oh, well, it's the fast-food restaurants that are causing obesity among the poor.' But that's not true. To focus on fast-food restaurants as the sole cause of obesity is incorrect."

The professor of health economics said the study of the dining habits of about 5,000 Americans found that as a household's income increased, so did visits to chain fast-food restaurants such as McDonald's. (That dropped dramatically, however, as income went even higher, presumably because the high-income types can hire cooks or afford to eat at restaurants with tablecloths.)

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Read the rest of the article at the link..

[no_hypocrisy]

1. Maybe the people with money have the means but don't have the time or interest in

preparing their own meals. If I had a decent salary, I'd buy organic meat, chicken, fruits, and vegetables, not do fast food.

[kestrel91316]

2. I have felt for years that it was a good thing fast food, and convenience foods

in general were out of my price range, because they are so unhealthy.

If I take just a LITTLE bit of time, I can prepare delicious, healthy meals that put prepared foods to shame. My crockpot is a lifesaver.