ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Impacts of poverty on health

Imagine you only have a few toys to play with and only a little bit of food to eat every day. You might start feeling sad or tired all the time because you don't have enough energy to play and have fun. This is kind of what happens to people who don't have enough money to buy all the things they need - this is called being in poverty.

When people don't have enough money, they might not be able to afford to go to the doctor or buy medicine when they're sick. This can make them stay sick longer and sometimes even get worse. Not being able to afford healthy food can also make them get sick more often or make it harder for them to get better.

Living in a home that isn't safe or clean can also make people sick. For example, if the walls have mold or there are bugs or rats around, it can make people breathe in things that can hurt their bodies. They might get sick more often or have more trouble breathing.

People who are in poverty might also feel worried or scared a lot of the time. This can be bad for their health too because it can make their body feel stressed all the time. Stress can make them feel even more tired and can even make them sick too.

So, poverty can have a big impact on someone's health because when they don't have enough money to buy things they need, they might not be able to take care of themselves as well. This can make them get sick more often or have trouble getting better when they are sick.