South Bronx Epitomizes Paradox of Hunger and Obesity

South Bronx Epitomizes Paradox of Hunger and Obesity
(The New York Times, March 14, 2010)

New York's South Bronx reported the highest rate of "food hardship" in a recent report released by the Food Research and Action Center. The area also has one of the nation's highest obesity rates. Experts note that hunger and obesity are not "parallel problems persisting in side-by-side neighborhoods, but plagues often seen in the same household, even the same person." "Hunger and obesity are often flip sides to the same malnutrition coin," said Joel Berg, executive director of the New York City Coalition Against Hunger. "Hunger is certainly almost an exclusive symptom of poverty. And extra obesity is one of the symptoms of poverty." According to the FRAC survey, nearly 37 percent of residents in the 16th Congressional District - which includes the South Bronx - reported that they lacked money to buy food ("food hardship") in a recent 12-month period. This percentage is much higher than the national average of 18.5 percent. Part of the problem lies with the fact that poverty-stricken areas often lack grocery stores. In nine of the Bronx's 12 community districts, there are too few supermarkets, reported a 2008 city government study. Those stores selling food carry mostly high calorie, more "unhealthy" foods. "[T]he strategic response needs to be linked in various ways," said Linda I. Gibbs, deputy mayor for health and human services. "We tackle the challenge on three fronts - providing income supports, increasing healthy options and encouraging nutritious behavior." Experts say additional factors play a role since poor people "often work longer hours and work multiple jobs, so they tend to eat on the run," said Andrew G. Rundle, an epidemiologist at the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. Other areas in New York City also posted high food hardship rates - the 10th Congressional District ranked sixth in the FRAC report. Newark (NJ-10) ranked ninth, with 31 percent of respondents reporting food hardship. Nationally, Mississippi is the hungriest state at 26 percent, with Arkansas, Alabama, Tennessee, Kentucky, Louisiana, the Carolinas and Oklahoma following close behind. New York's 17.4 percent ranks the state 27th; New Jersey, at 15.5 percent, is 41st, and Connecticut is 47th, with 14.6 percent reporting food hardship.