Overweight? You’re Not Making Enough Money!

By | June 28, 2018

Expert Author Chris Bouchard

Research shows that not making enough money is associated with being overweight, mainly because there is a significant correlation between an individual’s physical wellness and that person’s mental clarity. Subsequently, there is a link between mental clarity and life satisfaction in regards to income and other primary and tertiary needs as highlighted in Maslow’s theory on the hierarchy of needs.

Here are the reasons why not making enough money may warrant you being overweight:

  • Lack of time

An individual who does not make enough money is bound to drown in bills and get into debt if they do not work more hours in a day. The consequences of working more hours include reduced time for working out, lack of time to get/prepare healthy meals, and lack of enough time to rest. A combination of these three factors leads to weight gain; leading to obesity.

  • Poor Mental health

Not making enough money affects the mental well-being of individuals because it causes insecurity of the mind. Poor mental health can lead to depressive tendencies such as addiction, esteem issues, and hence, self-destructive tendencies such as overeating, smoking, and alcohol abuse. Depressive tendencies and drug abuse have been scientifically proven to be risk factors associated with being overweight.Depression due to lack of enough money also causes demotivation. A demotivated person lacks the energy and intelligence to make healthy choices because they consider their efforts inadequate. A depressed person may also have poor sleeping habits. Poor sleep habits such as oversleeping and lack of adequate sleep are also risk factors of weight gain.

  • Limited choice

Not making enough money can constrain an individual to particular locations or situations. For example, whereas a person may be interested in working out, the lack of money for a gym membership limits this person’s ability to work with a professional trainer or dietician.The individual’s choice for food also become limited. Not making enough money comes limits a person to cost-effective foods where healthy alternatives are foregone to spare money for other needs. Healthy foods are more expensive and scarce. On the other hand, unhealthy foods, such as junk foods and soda that are high in unhealthy sugars and calories (risk factors for obesity), are inexpensive and readily available.

Lack of enough money also limits the social mobility of a person, and the access to amenities such as public gyms, playgrounds, or farmers markets.

  • Information

Illiteracy/ignorance has a direct relationship with low income. Illiteracy is defined as lack of education. Individuals who are uneducated do not know how to access information, and those who can access the information lack the comprehension capability. For example, an illiterate person may not be able to comprehend the labeling information provided by manufacturers on the packaging of the products. However, an ignorant person may also consume unhealthy foods because they do not understand the importance of nutrition or are dismissive about the long-term benefits of physical wellbeing.

Chris Bouchard is a strategic consultant who works with non-profit leaders and social entrepreneurs to apply concepts and techniques to identify complex strategic issues, find practical solutions, and devise strategies to create and win a unique strategic position. He also offers project development, proposal writing, and project evaluation services.

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