“Socioeconomic status has an effect on health, both independent of behavior and because of behavior,” said Bacon, who is also an associate nutritionist at the University of California at Davis. “It’s always challenging to make good choices. But even when they make the same choices [as wealthier people], they have a worse effect.” She points to stress as a possible culprit. Cortisol is a hormone released by the adrenal glands in response to stress in the body. One of its effects is to cause the body to store more fat in the abdomen. From a public health perspective, it would be better to look at social inequity than weight loss, Bacon said. “Our best bet is to shift our focus. Weight is not the real issue,” she said. As for those apples and pears, Bacon would probably suggest eating them.
Link to article