A Link Between Expensive Produce and High BMI?

Image Credit: Ryan Harvey

There is no denying that fruits and vegetables are becoming pricier nowadays. But could the high prices cause an impact on the body fat percentage of today's kids? 

According to recent research, there is a slight link between the cost of fresh produce and the body mass index (BMI) of kids. The cost of produce has increased dramatically. Between 1997 and 2003, prices have rose a total of seventeen percent. In addition, fruits and vegetables have become pricier in the last year due to the increase in gas prices. In order to pay for the transportation of produce, the cost had no choice but to rise. On the other hand, the cost of mass produced snacks has declined. As a result, consumers tend to opt for cheaper high calorie snacks than the costly produce to save money. Eating fast food is also another inexpensive option for these cash-strapped families. Fast food chains are not only dirt cheap but conveniently located. 

But in the end, is the cost of the later medical bills worth it? 

Image credit: Ryan Harvey at Flickr. No changes were made to the image and is used under the Creative Commons License.