Advertisements and marketing lead Americans to believe that health disparities are the result of individual behaviors and lifestyle choices. People often make assumptions about health outcomes by looking at whether or not a person smokes, eats organic food and how much they exercise. While these behaviors do affect health, there are more useful classifications which more accurately determine health outcomes in America.  As the income gap between the richest Americans and the rest of us continues to widen, it is more pragmatic to classify and examine our socioeconomic differences instead of arguing over whether or not Americans should drink soda in cups larger than 16 ounces. The Cycle There is a cycle of cumulative disadvantage, beginning in early childhood, the effects of which continue throughout a person’s life. Children of lower income families are sometimes exposed to pollution and toxicity from substandard housing, which often instigate the onset of chronic illnesses such as asthma. They might end up in poorly-paid positions, with little control and demanding working conditions, causing even more health problems. This then affects their children and the next generation. The consequences of strong or weak foundations in early childhood are not temporary; they accumulate over the course of time and can manifest themselves as disease and inferior health. The richest Americans have access to better early childhood education and have more opportunities to live healthier lifestyles. It too simplistic to classify people by whether or not they exercise, without looking at the larger picture of income inequality and how this affects the health throughout the lifespan. Is Stress A Factor? Chronic stress compromises immune functioning, causing greater vulnerability to disease. There are a number of social circumstances that bring about chronic stress, a disproportionate amount of which rest on the shoulders of the lower classes. Living in unsafe communities, often having to work two or more jobs with a great deal of job insecurity, it is not surprising that low socioeconomic status comes with stress. Social policies could be changed to improve this; for instance, if part-time workers were guaranteed paid sick and maternity leave, and paid vacation time. It is a common argument that high paid executives also experience prolonged stress and that this can affect their health as well. However, while high paid executives may suffer from high blood pressure, they can also afford...