In an article entitled “Diabetes Risk, Low Fitness, and Energy Insufficiency Levels among Children from Poor Families,” published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association in November 2008, Dr. Trevino and colleagues report that 1,402 low-income students from South Texas participated in a health screening study that found high levels of blood glucose, obesity, energy insufficiency, and low fitness levels. 

“Although it is often assumed that children with reduced energy intake would have reduced body fat and be less likely to be overweight, that was not the case among this study’s participants. Forty-four percent of children consumed below minimum energy requirements and many were still overweight. A particular finding was the low intake of most dietary minerals.”  The authors posit several explanations for the paradoxical relationship of low energy intake with obesity, including binge eating when food becomes available and compromised food quality.

This links opens a UPI story on the journal article:

http://www.upi.com/Health_News/2008/11/03/Poor_children_at_higher_diabetes_risk/UPI-81801225746144/