Low-Income People In Italy Can’t Afford The Mediterranean Diet

Researchers who studied the impact of the global economic crisis on income and dietary patterns in Italy have found that “progressive impoverishment” of people has made the acclaimed Mediterranean diet virtually unaffordable for low-income people, leading to less healthy eating habits and poor health. The authors analyzed data on more than 13,000 residents of  the Molise region of southern Italy. They found that low-income people were much less likely to follow the Mediterranean diet of fresh foods compared to more affluent people. The poorest people were more likely to get prepackaged or junk food. The result? Thirty-six percent were obese compared to 20 percent among the wealthiest.