Children’s Obesity Fund Co-founders Comment on Study Linking Lower Education Levels to Higher Obesity Rates
(PRWEB) October 18, 2013 -- While obesity is prevalent in lower income neighborhoods, it isn’t purely the result of a lack of finances. This is the finding of a study published on September, 20th 2013 in the American Journal of Health Promotions (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/20/education-income-obesity-health-news-this-week_n_3961282.html), and reported by several media outlets including the Huffington Post, which found that educational levels bear a greater influence than financial stability in terms of predicting obesity levels.
“This only goes to show that education, or rather a lack thereof, influences decisions we might not have predicted,” says Dr. Michael Omidi, cofounder of Children’s Obesity Fund. “If we are going to have any success in the fight against obesity, we have to start by encouraging people to pursue their educational goals, because learning influences our choices in a variety of ways – emotionally, economically and physically.”
The study was conducted by a group of researchers from Deakin University in Victoria, Australia (http://www.deakin.edu.au). The authors found that of 4,000 people categorized as being at an amplified disadvantage, meaning that they were both of a low-income and low level of education, the lack of education effected nutritional decisions more than poverty.
“It seems that the ability to afford healthy food isn’t the only or most important factor in good nutritional choices,” says Julian Omidi, cofounder of Children’s Obesity Fund. “When people have an active interest in their health and have the foundation to understand basic nutritional guidelines, then efforts to put an end to the cycle of obesity will be more successful.”
Cofounded by Julian Omidi and Dr. Michael Omidi, the Children’s Obesity Fund (http://www.childrensobesityfund.org) hopes to help reverse the trend of rising obesity rates in America. The goal of the non-profit charity is to help people fully understand the obesity issue and its dire impacts on individuals and society as a whole -- and to use that knowledge to encourage children to grow up strong and healthy. Children’s Obesity Fund partners with other organizations to educate and support parents, educators and others so that we can all work together to raise healthy, active, social, and happy children. While the organization does not accept donations, it does encourage direct contributions of money and talents to the associations featured on our website. Children’s Obesity Fund is on Facebook as well as Google+, Twitter, and Pinterest.
Media Relations, Children's Obesity Fund, http://www.childrensobesityfund.org, 855-550-3200, [email protected]
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