Normal weight loss research focuses on small-scale stuff like how taking smaller bites and drinking a glass of water before you eat will help you lose weight. Wusses. German researchers announced today that they found a significant link between people who are heavily in debt and people who are heavily overweight.
After conducting the not-terribly-rigorous-but-still-very-interesting study, researchers from the University of Mainz concluded that being in serious debt – defined as not being able to “pay off debts in a reasonable time frame” – puts you at an approximate 2 – 2.5 fold risk of being overweight or obese. At least if you are German and are honest in telephone surveys. (Who would ever lie to a stranger over the phone about their weight or their money problems?? )
The researchers readily admit that there are compounding variables not addressed in this survey. For example, a low socioeconomic status (i.e. being poor) has already been correlated with both a higher BMI and a greater amount of debt. Correlation is not causation; I get it. But on a certain level the debt-obesity connection just makes sense. It has been well proven that stress exacerbates weight problems and what could possibly be more stressful that having a slew of creditors breathing down your neck? I recently acquired a new phone number (not for nefarious purposes but thanks for asking) and with the new digits came all the collections-agency phone calls accrued by the previous owner of the number. At least five times a day I get an automated voice insisting that I put “Robert Imigraio” on the line immediately. I’m about ready to chuck the phone through the wall and it’s not even my debt!
In addition to the stress factor, being in debt is a clear sign of money issues and as anyone who is short on cash knows, the last thing you are worried about is whether or not the “froot” in your loops is organic much less low sugar. Not to mention that being in debt is also depressing and, hey, some people eat when they are depressed.
Another nuance that interests me, but was not addressed in the survey, is that poor people are not the only people with debt issues. Just using Google Earth’s new “foreclosure” feature shows me that plenty of wealthier folks are losing the debt war. At least in America, debt is becoming the great equalizer.
So what’s the point of all this, beyond morbid curiosity? Not to go all Oprah on you but it’s another angle at helping people live better lives. Fat shaming certainly hasn’t reduced the level of obesity. Neither have well-intentioned educational programs. Nor has scary you-will-die-young-and-also-destroy-the-environment-if-you-can’t-shut-your-piehole statistics. So why not try addressing one of the possible causes by helping people get out of debt? I haven’t done any surveys on the issue – not to brag or anything but I do know 9 people in Germany plus I have a phone – but it seems that resolving debt could have many positive effects, not the least of which is on your waist line. Gives a whole new meaning to “the debt diet” no?
PS, if you have any tips on how to make these collection people stop calling please let me know! Just don’t call me though because I’ve stopped answering my phone.
Interesting study.
If the collection people keep insisting that you put the guy on the phone, ask what agency they're calling from, and get the extension of the supervisor. Then call the supervisor and let him know that you have recently changed your number and do not appreciate the harassing calls for someone who doesn't live at that address, and if it continues, you'll take legal action.
Or just don't fall into debt in the first place! (ha… just wait until I buy a condo in a year or so… hehe).
Both my husband and I inherited phone numbers from individuals deep in debt. It took me 3-4 years before the collectors finally stopped calling for good. I feel your pain.
This doesn't really address your question, but I can think of one more reason for the correlation of people being in debt and overweight. Often the foods that are cheapest are far from healthy, and if people are really in a tight spot for money they may be just going for the cheapest foods that will keep them satisfied.
Thanks for another fun picture. 🙂
Tricia – I've tried!! The problem is the whole system is automated. I never get to speak to a real human being! I even stayed on the phone once and said that yes I was Robert with the hope that I would get to speak to a person. I didn't. And I think it made the problem worse.
Janet – 3-4 years?? NOOOOO… don't tell me that! Gah.
Em.K. – great point!
Do you know anyone in law enforcement? That came in helpful when we were getting calls from debt collectors a few years ago. They didn't believe us when we told them we weren't the people they were looking for, nor did we know them, so I sicced a family friend who works for a federal agency on them. That worked REALLY fast.
If not, you could always lie and say you are a lawyer representing the Andersen family, and that if the calls don't stop you will begin legal proceedings.
(And another great photo, BTW!)
What about delayed gratification? I think that's a component that's been overlooked. You can't delay your gratification when shopping…you buy it on impulse… The little things do add up, and you find yourself deeper and deeper in debt. Same thing with food…you tell yourself you deserve the McDonalds, the pizza, the Krispy Kreme, etc. etc. "Just one more bite." Or you eat too much of whatever you have.
Or, you don't want to cook at home, you crave the taste (fat and sugar working on the addiction center in the brain, hmmm) of restaurant food. Eat out alot, the waist line expands as the money decreases.
I don't doubt that for some, the socioeconomic status and/or the cheapness of the bad food plays a role. But for many more, the inability to make good choices and delay gratification is key.
P.S. my personal experience. And that of a few of my friends.
Well crap. I don't have any debt, so there goes THAT excuse for my ever-expanding butt!
As far as the new phone number and the collection agencies? Call your service provider and ask them to give you another new number. Explain the problem and perhaps they can help you solve it.
(I know, I know, you've already told all your friends and relations the new number, but I'm sure they will understand….and they will actually be able to get through to you because if the collection agency stops calling, you can start answering again!) Unless, of course, you want to not answer your phone for the next 3 or 4 years…..
I used to read a blog written by someone who claimed to be writing it to talk about their weight loss and impeoving financial difficulties, but I stopped when they just kept repeating the same behaviors over and over. I think some of it relates to the inability to delay gratification.
be me.
I never answer the landline 🙂
people know to call my cell…
I had that problem with my cell phone, too. I remember just punching zero repeatedly until either the phone disconnected or I got someone. I also used the caller ID feature and called the number back after the automated response was done. This latter proved useful. I was never calm when I finally got a live person; I always started at 60mph to get them to remove the number from their files. The majority of calls were gone within a year that way. I've only had the number for 5 years, and I'd say it's been a good three since I've had any calls for Courtney Ellington.
I'm going to have to agree with E.m.K. on this issue, though. While it's not the only answer, it's a big portion of it. Stress is the other big one. Of course, other factors contribute, but it's the big ones that get you.
Joshua
The Technical Parent
Ummmmm…what about debt that is more of an investment- like schooling, or a house?? Because as it stands, I will be the equivalent of a small house in rural Canada in debt by the time I finish law school. But I'm also significantly more healthy now in law, with regard to eating habits and exercise, than at any other point earlier in my life.
So I'm going to chime in an agree with Dr. J and Sara, perhaps it's an issue of delaying gratification? God knows law school frequently requires me to give up a variety of things, for the mere chance to pursue the option to be a lawyer. But maybe it's more self-control: the inability to say no to bad food, and inability to say no to things that you don't need to buy.
I know that many people in severe debt got there because of things beyond their control, especially with the whole recession thing going on, and that many people who are overweight have no issues with self-control, but they have other issues going on. I'm just saying, that I'm sure a segment of the population has problems with self-control, and that it affects both their debt level and their weight.
Perhaps it's also an issue of education. Many people still don't know HOW bad some foods are for you, and perhaps this correlates with the same people who don't have basic fiscal skills.
I do also think that the price of food is an issue- fruits and veggies alone make up more than half my grocery bill in Calgary. Needless to say, if my parents weren't concerned with my well-being, my grocery budget would be half what it currently is, making it impossible for me to buy good food. Even frozen/canned stuff is expensive here when compared with the rest of the country.
Sorry for the long post! Love your blog! Hope the last little bit of pregnancy is treating you well!
When that happened to me, I googled the phone number and found other people with the same problem had written to an address to ask their number be removed. Apparently it worked for some of them.
Worse than debt collectors was when I got a # that had apparently belonged to a drug dealer. The calls came at midnight or later, and they sounded sinister. Wherever "Anthony" is, he better keep running.
I don't have a landline and I just never answer my cell unless I know the number calling. People who know me know to text, IM, facebook, twitter, or just get ahold of my fiance instead because I just tend to not answer my phone anyway. 😉
I agree 1,000,000% with Dr. J. Debt and obesity are more likely related to impulse control than one another. Another study to be performed: Anger management. Do fat people lose their cool more often than skinny people?
One thing that startled me about this study was how low obesity rates were among Germans compared to the U.S. rates. I think they said the rates for the generally population in Germany was 11%, which seems much lower than ours. Aren't we more like 30%?
And it's not like German food is known for being unusually low-cal, so there must be some real cultural differences between the countries.