Effects of Food Stamp Participation on Body Weight and Obesity

Chen, Zhuo; Yen, Steven T.; Eastwood, David B.

doi:10.1111/j.1467-8276.2005.00803.x

Cited by 96 publications

(90 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(4 reference statements)

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“…Three of the latter studies found stronger associations among women than men (7,9,11) . Recently, Zagorsky and Smith demonstrated that participation in FSP (SNAP) was associated with a 1 kg/m 2 greater BMI among women, when compared with non-participants of the same socio-economic characteristics (11) .…”

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confidence: 98%

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Is participation in food and income assistance programmes associated with obesity in California adults? Results from a state-wide survey

Leung

Villamor

2010

Public Health Nutr.

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Objective: Public assistance programmes may increase risk of obesity among adults. The current study assessed whether participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP; formerly the Food Stamp Program), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or California Work Opportunities and Responsibilities to Kids (CalWorks) was associated with obesity, independent of socio-economic status and food insecurity. Design: A cross-sectional analysis of the 2007 Adult California Health Interview Survey. Outcome measures included BMI and obesity. Distribution of BMI and prevalence of obesity were compared by participation in each programme, using weighted linear and binomial regression models in which BMI or obesity was the outcome, respectively, and programme participation was the predictor. Setting: A population survey of various health measures. Subjects: Non-institutionalized adults (n 7741) whose household income was #130 % of the federal poverty level. Results: The prevalence of obesity was 27?4 %. After adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, food insecurity and participation in other programmes, the prevalence of obesity was 30 % higher in SNAP participants (95 % CI 6 %, 59 %; P 5 0?01) than in non-participants. This association was more pronounced among men than women. SSI participation was related to an adjusted 50 % higher prevalence of obesity (95 % CI 27 %, 77 %; P , 0?0001) compared with no participation. SNAP and SSI participants also reported higher soda consumption than non-participants of any programme. CalWorks participation was not associated with obesity after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions: Participation in SNAP or SSI was associated with obesity independent of food insecurity or socio-economic status. The suggestion that these associations may be mediated by dietary quality warrants further investigation among low-income populations.

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confidence: 98%

“…The relationship between participation in FSP (SNAP) and obesity among adults has been examined in previous studies, some of which have reported a lack of association (5) whereas others showed a positive association (6)(7)(8)(9)(10)(11) . Three of the latter studies found stronger associations among women than men (7,9,11) .…”

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confidence: 99%

Is participation in food and income assistance programmes associated with obesity in California adults? Results from a state-wide survey

Leung

Villamor

2010

Public Health Nutr.

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“…Although the current study did not control for selection bias toward participation in public assistance programs and was not able to identify which public assistance programs the women used, some studies have found a positive association between participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and higher BMI status in women. 21,[35][36][37] It has been suggested that families who are at risk of experiencing food insecurity have limited cash assistance to spend on food at the end of the month because the majority of SNAP benefits are used within the first 3 days of the month when SNAP benefits are distributed. 38 The sharp decline in cash benefits toward the end of the month leads to a reduction in food consumption among mothers, perhaps even starving themselves so that their children can have sufficient food to eat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Gestational Weight Gain as a Predictor of Longitudinal Body Mass Index Transitions Among Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Women

Hernandez

2012

Journal of Women's Health

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Background: Socioeconomically disadvantaged women are at greater risk for gestational weight gain and postpartum weight retention compared to socioeconomically advantaged women. This study examines the effect of gestational weight gain on body mass index (BMI) transitions 5 years after pregnancy in socioeconomically disadvantaged women. Methods: Gestational weight gain was assessed in 2136 postpartum women participating in the Fragile Families and Child Well-being study who experienced full-term, singleton gestations. Longitudinal BMI transitions were defined as a change or stability in BMI category between two time points: BMI before the index pregnancy and BMI 5 years after the index pregnancy. Logistic regression models estimated the association between gestational weight gain and longitudinal BMI transitions, controlling for health before the index pregnancy, pregnancy history, and sociodemographic characteristics. Results: Excessive gestational weight gain was related to transitioning to a higher BMI category 5 years after the index pregnancy. Compared to white women, black and Hispanic women were more likely to transition or maintain a higher BMI category. Pregnancy history (i.e., parity at index pregnancy, interim pregnancy) and public assistance participation were associated with transitioning to a higher BMI category. Conclusions: Among socioeconomically disadvantaged women, excessive gestational weight gain is related to transitioning to, but not maintaining, a higher weight category 5 years after the index pregnancy. Black and Hispanic women who are also socioeconomically disadvantaged and overweight or obese before conception may benefit from preconception or postpartum counseling about the long-term effect of gaining excessive weight during pregnancy and in the years immediately after childbirth.

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“…Fox, Hamilton, and Lin (2004a, b) concluded that results were mixed and collectively inconclusive concerning impacts of the FSP on several other nutrition-and health-related outcomes (such as birth weight, height, weight, nutritional biochemistries, and general measures of health status). Although the findings are mixed, the balance of the evidence (weighing those studies that have done a better job of addressing the perennial econometric challenges) indicates that women who participate in the FSP are more likely to be obese, with estimated probabilities ranging from 6 to 9 percent (Gibson 2003;Chen, Yen and Eastwood 2005;Meyerhoefer and Pylypchuk 2008). However recent work by Fan (2010) found no effect of long-or short-run FSP participation by women on obesity once preparticipation weight and other socio-economic and demographic factors were taken into account.…”

Section: Public Food and Nutrition Programsmentioning

confidence: 99%