News junkies that we are, my husband and I take two daily newspapers which we read  over coffee every morning.  Today, each newspaper had a headline that seemed somewhat contradictory:

Local paper: Students host program to highlight hunger, support backpack program

IndyStar: Jump In battles weighty problem of youth obesity

What a contrast between the two articles:   Childhood obesity vs. hunger.

Which is worse?   Obviously, it’s painful to suffer hunger pangs.  And yet some of these children may also be obese because their parents can’t afford fresh fruits and vegetables or  other healthy foods.

Once upon a time, supermarkets like A&P were  in the heart of the inner city, so nutritious food was more accessible for low income families.  But the major food chains have relocated along the highways , where  you can’t go if you don’t own a vehicle.

Dollar stores located in poor areas have plenty of  bread, cakes, cookies and crackers full of carbohydrates and sodium.  They also have salty, fatty lunch meat , sausage, bacon, greasy snack foods and pizza. .  Drive by these inner city stores anytime and you will see people carrying sacks of food, walking along the sidewalks to their homes.  Without a car or truck, they have no way of getting to the  stores out on the highway, where the counters are loaded with tomatoes, carrots, oranges, apples and other fresh produce. When the mom gets home, the kids  may gorge on potato chips, bread and jelly or other unhealthy snacks.   For dinner that evening they may have sausage and eggs, because their parents can’t drive to  a grocery store for salads and lean meat.

The backpack program at our local school corporation strives  to relieve the hunger problem, especially over weekends and holidays, when children may have no food in the house.   Drug abuse, alcohol, and mental health issues all contribute to child neglect.  And even in stable families, a dad can lose his job, or the mom gets sick, and there isn’t any money left for the basics.

On the other hand, childhood obesity can happen in any socioeconomic group. Why is it increasing?  In the old days, kids walked to school and played outdoors instead of staying inside on their computer or smartphone.  More exercise and better food choices would obviously help some of the kids to slim down.   Many children turn to food for comfort.  If they’re depressed, lonely, or unpopular, a chocolate bar may relieve the unhappiness.  My daughter once had an overweight friend who ate spoons full of sugar right from the package.

 43% of  children under 19 in the state of Indiana are  obese.  Conversely,  40% of the children in my community are living in poverty.  Politicians come and go, but the dismal statistics haven’t changed much in the past 50 years.

Suggestions anyone?