The effects of food stamp receipt on weight gained by expectant mothers

Abstract

With over 66% of Americans overweight, expectant mothers are unusual because they are encouraged to gain weight while pregnant. Food stamp receipt (FSR) may facilitate recommended weight gain by providing resources for food and nutrition. I examine the effects of FSR on the amount of weight gained by low-income expectant mothers using NLSY79 data. Results indicate FSR decreases the probability gaining insufficient weight but does not exacerbate the probability of gaining too much weight. Examining the effects of FSR on pregnancy weight gain is important because low birth weight is more likely when expectant mothers gain insufficient weight.

Studying the consumption and health outcomes of fiscal interventions (taxes and subsidies) on food and beverages in countries of different income classifications; a systematic review

“… F&V intake Low-income postpartum women intervention 1, n = 168, intervention 2, n = 140; control n = 143 WIC Participants in the intervention sites increased consumption of F&V. The increase was sustained 6 months after the intervention was terminated ( p < 0.001). None recorded Yes Weak 2001 Farmers market participants increased consumption of F&V by 1.4 servings per 100 kcal of consumed food ( p < 0.001) from baseline to the end of intervention compared to the control group, and supermarket participants increased by 0.8 servings per 100 kcal ( p = 0.02) 6 months Baum [ 41 ] 2012 USA Longitudinal study FSP on expectant mothers Weight gained by expectant mothers during pregnancy Low income expectant mothers n = 709 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979 Food Stamp Receipt (FSR) decreases the probability of gaining insufficient weight during pregnancy with FSR increasing pregnancy weight gain by 1.78 lb ( p < 0.05). However, it does not result in pregnant mothers gaining too much weight None recorded Yes Weak 1979–2002 23 years Black [ 45 ] 2013 New South Wales, Australia Before and after uncontrolled study Weekly box of subsidized fruit and vegetables up to $60 linked to preventive health services (annual health assessment including dental and hearing check-ups, blood testing) and nutritional promotion Change in the episode of illness, health service and emergency department attendances, antibiotic prescription, BMI Low-income Aboriginal families with one or more childre n <17 years of age who were regular patients at the respective health services n = 167 Retrospective health records audit and health assessment from Aboriginal health services, local hospitals and any other nominated general practices A significant decrease ( p < 0.05) in oral antibiotics prescribed (−0.5 prescriptions/year; 95%CI, −0.8 to −0.2) during 12 months of participation in the programme compared with the 12 months before the programme.…”

The origins of early childhood anthropometric persistence

“…given estimates of the regression model. Here, (4) represents the probability of a child having an anthropometric measure above  * in the terminal period conditional on an initial measure greater than or equal to some value  0 . For example, one might be interested in the probability of a child having a BMI above the 85  percentile in period  conditional on being above the 85  percentile in the initial period,  = 0.…”

“…To proceed, we simulate probabilities, such as those given by (4), under the following counterfactual scenarios:…”

“…The notion that attributes determined at or shortly after birth, and thus time invariant over the life of an individual, play a dominant role in the evolution of obesity is consistent with the strong evidence in economics and elsewhere on the so-called fetal origins hypothesis (see, e.g., Almond and Currie 2011). 4 The fetal origins hypothesis, also referred to as the thrifty phenotype hypothesis or Barker's hypothesis (due to Barker's original publication in 1992), posits long-run effects of conditions in utero during critical periods of development through "programmed" changes in the physiology and metabolism of individuals (Barker 1997). An article in Time on September 22, 2010 summarizes 5 :…”

Missing data, imputation, and endogeneity

“…Moreover, because birth weight is likely to be endogenous, we utilize instruments based on statelevel regulations that a¤ect participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) similar to Meyerhoefer and Pylypchuk (2008). SNAP (formerly known as the Food Stamp Program) has been show to a¤ect the health of low-income pregnant women and, hence, a¤ect pregnancy outcomes (Baum 2012). …”