Does anyone else find that having money ends up making you gain weight

jenniferinfl

Poverty and obesity are more likely to go hand in hand in developed nations. I've always gained weight when at my poorest. It is really hard to focus on what you are eating when you are struggling to keep the lights on and the car from being repo'd. When your electricity is shut off, it's cheaper to get several dollar burgers at a fastfood place than to come up with the money to get your power back on.
I went without a stove for 4 years, never could hold onto a dollar long enough to even buy a hot plate, just lived on Mcdonalds dollar menu. One time our fridge quit and we just didn't have a fridge for over a year. When you have no way to cook food and no way to store food all that you can really eat is the worst of the foods. You can't buy veggies, not enough calories, but, then the alternative foods have too many calories. My husband and I used to go to the cheapest lunch buffets and try to eat enough in one sitting to last the rest of the day.

That was during the recession of 2008-2009. We are comfortable now and I can finally focus on things like my appearance and weight.

claudeCH67

In contrary. Having enough money to buy organic and healthy food, to avoid junk food restaurants makes it actually more likely not to gain weight. But at the end of the day, it's about discipline, a routine and to stick to it.

lemurcat12

Christine_72 wrote: »

I was at my slimmest when i was broke because i just couldn't afford to go grocery shopping whenever the whim hit.

This doesn't explain why there seems to be so many more overweight/obese people in the poorer suburbs where i live.... I haven't read all the responses yet, so maybe someone has come up with a theory of why this is??

When it comes to indulgences, many types of high cal food are among the cheapest and involve little excess energy/planning (indeed, eating lower cal/healthier and adding in exercise typically involves a bit more planning and preexisting habit or mental energy to set a habit).

I also think there's more of a stigma to obesity/not eating healthfully in higher income areas in the US anyway.

NatJayneL

As someone who moved from homelessness to lower middle class I'm 5 years, poverty causes weight gain. Stress and mental illness are some of the biggest causes of weight gain and both are positively correlated with poverty. Cost of healthy food and time to cook and exercise is also a factor where impoverished individuals get the short end of the stick.

If you are gaining weight on a higher income, money isn't to blame. Best of luck on your journey to health.

Mr_Knight

Nope. Mo' money, the more motivated I am to be fit.