Study Shows US Eating Habits Have Improved, Except Among Poor

Sep 02, 2014 05:22 AM EDT

(Photo : REUTERS/Dominick Reuter ) Pictured is a meal from Red Robin restaurant in Foxboro, Massachusetts. The dish was listed as the single unhealthiest meal to appear on the non-profit Center for Science in the Public Interest's (CSPI) Xtreme Eating Awards for 2014.

A 12-year study conducted by researchers from Chicago has shown that food choices amongst Americans are improving with the exception of those which hail from low-income families, reports state.

The startling conclusion has cast a light on how the wealth gap affects people's diets in the U.S.

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According to Dr. Frank Hu of Harvard School of Public Health, a co-author of the study, the rich-poor diet gap is alarming. He added that suggestions for public health are very important.

Hu noted that the gap reflects differences in income due to recession over the past several years. This made it unlikely for poor people to be able to afford healthier foods.

The doctor added that inexpensive, highly processed foods are made readily available to poor communities because they are more affordable.

Based on a top score of 110 for healthy eating, the study revealed that Americans only averaged a score of 40 from 1999-2000. From 2009-2010, the score increased to 47.

During the same years, low-income adults were shown to have lower scores, scoring only 41 during 2009-2010.

The higher scores indicate that the intake of heart-healthy foods is greater. These foods include vegetables, whole grains, fruits, and fats.

Those who eat these kinds of foods have a lower risk of chronic illnesses such as diabetes, stroke, and heart disease.

Due to the difference in diet, chronic illnesses and obesity were found to be more common in poor people.

With the help of the study, researchers have been able to develop an index for a healthy diet. The index features additional groups under which red and processed meat, sugar-based beverages, and alcohol are included.

The overall results were published on Monday in 'JAMA Internal Medicine' and showed that there has been improvement, although figures still fall short of what is required. Better nutrition education is suggested to improve America's overall rating in order to meet the federal dietary recommendations.

TagsUS eating habits, rich-poor gap, food study, healthy food, American eating habits