If obesity is at epidemic levels then why.....??????

Why are foods that are really good for you so expensive?? Not everyone can afford the good and healthiest foods. Why are the foods with the national heart foundation tick the most expensive in the supermarket?
It doesnt make sense to me that everyone is saying how bad obesity levels are and its getting worse when they are not even considering one of the most important factors.
Dont you think if healthy foods were more accessible and cheaper than more people would be inclined to consume these??
What are your opinions?

Whoa, you have asked a huge question. You are a person thinking and yes, i agree that healthier foods should be accessible and cheaper. I think if anything, we should write to those supermarkets and demand them to sell organic and do so cheaply. it does no good to sell foods that are chemically treated, that are processed and diluted and has more additives both written and not on their labelling. this places the public's health at risk and obesity is just one of the major consequences. however, in the mean time, do organic as much as your budget allows. I'm going nearly hundred percent and notice how my digestion is so much better.... and it has taken me years to get here. I'm definitely not overweight. use to have a lot of stomach problems, headaches, and was even overweight at many points in my upbringing. moreover, I seem to recover from more colds and flus alot quicker than i ever have. and interestingly enough, i don't eat as much as i use to. i speculate i don't need to overcompensate as organics are just basically rich in nutrients. i hope u may find your own way. read some magazines organics and yoga and alternative health magazines. widely available at those health food stores and a lot cheaper than buying books initially. i give you credit... you are on your away to better health and living just by asking a question that concerns us all here in the states...

Well, SOME healthy foods may be more expensive because: a) they're organic (which is more expensive to grow) OR b) they're expensive to grow/make (health bars, mixes, etc.)/maintain.

If they were cheaper, then I think it might make a difference, but if they're too cheap then the companies can't afford to keep making them because they lose money instead of gain money.

Definately! The healthy food is always so much more expensive, and the labels are always more boring and confusing than on junk food. And if they were made more prominent in the shops too, on special and out the front - then I might actually consider buying healthier food!

You make a good point here. And that's why I'm hoping to be able to make use of the farmer's market here as well as the health food stores as we can on some items and even in some cases one of the flea markets. Yep, one of the flea markets we have here in my town when it is open a couple of days a week has a lot of produce brought in such as fresh ginger.

A friend of mine was telling me that if he could go back to his country (he's from Trinidad) he would because fruit and veggies are cheaper there. The same was true in my mom's home country of Panama. Also, as of 20 years ago they were not using preservatives and other things in their foods like they do up here.

Also, the cost of the foods seem to go higher because of gas prices because of the transportation needed to bring the food to the stores.

It's all ridiculous if you ask me. I also have to wonder how much of the hormones in many of the foods such as some of the meat products aren't what helps to add to obesity epidemic in this country, because look how young some girls and boys are starting to develop physically. Makes one wonder how much of it is related to what's in the food in relation to the obesity epidemic (and other diseases sort of related to it) which in turn affects our genes.

I don't know where you're doing your grocery shopping, but I'm not spending a fortune on food and I eat healthful foods. For the cost of cookies or chips and soda, I can afford my fresh veggies instead!

People are more sedentary as well. Thanks to the Internet! Kids/adults can sit on their butts for hours at a time in front of the computer, oh yeah, don't want to leave out TV time either!

We've got to start moving again! I'm not talking about running all day on your feet at work, I'm talking about deliberate exercise. Tag football with your buddies. A long walk with friends or your dog. Borrow a dog!

I think we're in control, its what we choose to do that determines how chubbalicious we're getting.

=)

I'm right with ya on this one. We have a really nice health food store close to where we recently moved, and I love going there and looking around. But if I were to try and buy food there regularly (i.e. if I tried to put my family on a healthier diet), we'd go broke!

It's funny because I JUST said something to my mom about this. Right along the same lines. We were at said health food store and I said, "People are all concerned with health and eating right....but if I tried to eat like this all the time, I'd break the bank." She just nodded and said, "I know".

I don't deny that the majority of healthier foods are more expensive to produce, but it begs the question; if the government is so concerned with the health of Americans, why aren't they stepping in to help out? Probably because there's good money to be made by those companies who make the crappy, cheap food.

I don't know but I find if I stick to one or rwo small meals a day instead of three regular ones, it's a bit cheaper I think. They say Americans are way over nourished.