Study shows that poor teens in connected communities may be at risk for obesity

A recent study from Cornell University shows that living in a connected community may help protect poor teens from health risks such as smoking or obesity, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Researchers asked mothers and teens to provide information about social capital, which is a measure of how connected their community is.

The study showed that compared to middle-class teens, poor adolescents were more likely to smoke and have a higher body mass index (BMI) rating. This metric uses height and weight to determine the risk factor for obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

However, poor teens who had more social capital were less likely to smoke and had lower BMI, compared to those with less social capital. Experts say that impoverished people often consume unhealthy foods because they are cheaper to obtain.

"You may be able to loosen those connections between early childhood poverty and negative health outcomes if you live in a community with good social resources," Gary W. Evans, lead author, told the news source.

Obesity affects nearly 20 percent of teens in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, many adolescents are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure.

Source: http://www.hcgdietdirect.com/hcg-diet-news/study-shows-that-poor-teens-in-connected-communities-may-be-at-risk-for-obesity-800390574.html

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