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  • Essay / Food Insecurity for Cambodian Immigrants in the United States

    Refugees of all races and ethnicities first come to the United States and face food insecurity, oppression, and racism as they begin their new life. They essentially have to start their lives over with little to begin with. This can lead to unhealthy eating at fast food restaurants due to their cheaper and more accessible meals. Fast food restaurants fry their food in oils, which leads to high cholesterol and obesity. Organ diseases can also be the result of these unhealthy foods distributed to these immigrant communities. Refugees have very high rates of these diseases. Not only are fast food industries ruining the health of Asian immigrants, but low education is also a variable in obesity. High rates of food insecurity are the result of experiences in refugee camps and the transition to a new life in the United States. Asian immigrants, particularly Cambodian immigrants, are among many racialized groups in the United States who suffer health problems due to financial insecurity and food oppression. no to plagiarism. Get a Custom Essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essay Cambodian immigrants arrived during the Cambodian Civil War and during the abuses they faced under Pol Pot's regime and the Khmer Rouge. The Cambodian Civil War took place from 1967 to 1975 and its consequences continue to this day. During the war, people were forced into the brutal lives of labor camps. The children were forced to survive without their parents and became slaves working for Khmer Rouge soldiers. Immigrants and their families fled to Thai camps to seek refuge. Throughout their journey to freedom, the refugees had virtually no food to survive. Food security was limited, people of all ages were dying of starvation and starvation. From refugee camps in Thailand, they immigrated to primarily urban neighborhoods in the United States, one of them being Lowell, Massachusetts. These Cambodian immigrants live a low-income life in the small community of Lowell, Massachusetts. Lowell is home to the second largest Cambodian population in the United States. One of the big challenges faced by Cambodian immigrants is not knowing the culture and language of the United States. Lack of education about diet and wellness contributes to overall poor health. According to the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, members of the Cambodian community lack a good understanding of vaccinations and diseases, as well as diabetes, and do not know how to make healthy choices. Lowell has many fast food chains, including Asian fast food restaurants. Fast food chains like McDonalds, Burger King and Dunkin Donuts are very present in this small community. Because Lowell is heavily populated with Asian immigrants, the grocery stores are primarily Asian/Cambodian grocery stores selling fruits and meat products that are not the freshest. Convenience stores also provide an important source of food for families living in the community. Affordable and addictive junk food attracts families who can easily walk down the street to buy food. Food oppression in Lowell is so present because this community relies on Asian fast food restaurants, convenience stores, and small Asian grocery stores which I don't have,.