Socioeconomic Factors’ Effect on Nutrition and Lifestyle
Socioeconomic Factors’ Effect on Nutrition and Lifestyle
Sabrina Li
October 29, 2021
“Social and economic factors, such as income, education, employment, community safety, and social supports can significantly affect how well and how long we live. These factors affect our ability to make healthy choices, afford medical care and housing, manage stress, and more.” (countyhealthrankings 1)
Households with higher income can afford better education for their children. Schools for higher income students have more resources and are more likely to go to and graduate from college and get a good job. Higher income families can also always afford nutritious foods which can be harder for lower income families. This is why lower income families have higher rates of food insecurity.
Furthermore, households with higher incomes have better health. According to healthandenvironment.org, “...the report also states that disadvantaged subpopulations, such as rural residents, the poor and the less educated have seen greater increases in key coverage indicators over the past decade or so than their urban, wealthier and better-educated counterparts.” (Walker and Hepp 1) This is because households with higher incomes can afford better medical care. They have better access to health services and better and more medical equipment, so they are more resistant to health problems.
Finally, households with better social supports alleviate stressful situations. Supportive family, friends, and community will always encourage you to improve yourself and will comfort you during tough times. On the contrary, unsupportive family, friends, and community will always yell at you and put you in more stressful situations. That is bad news because according to mayo clinic, “Studies have demonstrated that social isolation and loneliness are associated with a greater risk of poor mental health and poor cardiovascular health, as well as other health problems.” (mayo clinic staff) In addition, unsupportive households will have a higher risk of doing self-harming stuff.
Work Cited
countyhealthrankings. (2021). Social and economic factors. County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.countyhealthrankings.org/explore-health-rankings/measures-data-sources/county-health-rankings-model/health-factors/social-and-economic-factors.
Walker, L., & Hepp, N. (16AD, October). Socioeconomic environment. Socioeconomic Environment - The Collaborative on Health and the Environment. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.healthandenvironment.org/environmental-health/environmental-risks/socioeconomic-environment.
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2020, August 29). Your crew matters: How to build social support. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/social-support/art-20044445.
Key, T. J., Bradbury, K. E., Perez-Cornago, A., Sinha, R., Tsilidis, K. K., & Tsugane, S. (2020, March 5). Diet, nutrition, and cancer risk: What do we know and what is the way forward? BMJ (Clinical research ed.). Retrieved November 13, 2021, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7190379/#ref10.