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Aug 11, 2009 04:15 PM | 34
One out of every nine people now receives food stamps in the U.S. And two thirds of Americans are either overweight or obese. A new scientific study links these startling figures and suggests that food stamps may actually be a risk factor for obesity.
Participants in the U.S. Food Stamp Program have, on average, a body mass index (BMI) more than one point higher than nonusers, according to research published in the current issue of Economics and Human Biology. This difference was especially high for women: those buying their food with stamps carried around an average of 5.8 pounds more body weight. The researchers also found that BMI rose higher the longer participants received the stamps.
The findings came from an analysis of some 4,000 enrollees in federal food stamp programs who were compared with nearly 6,000 people not using food stamps, along with variables including BMI, race and other socioeconomic factors. All participants were randomly selected in 1979 to be part of the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth.
"Every way we looked at the data, it was clear that the use of food stamps was associated with weight gain," Jay Zagorsky, co-author of the study and research scientist at The Ohio State University's Center for Human Resource Research, said in a prepared statement.
But what could be causing this link? The researchers started digging and discovered that, according to government statistics, the average recipient received just $81 in food stamps per month in 2002 (the last year examined in this study).
"That figure was shocking to me," Zagorsky said. "I think it would be very difficult for a shopper to regularly buy healthy, nutritious food on that budget."
And the number of Americans eating on this budget is growing, surpassing 34 million for the first time in May. As Stacy Dean of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a think tank, told Reuters, "Food stamp enrollment is rising because the economy is having a devastating impact on low-income families and they need this program to eat."
Various groups have posed possible solutions to the country's obesity epidemic. The Urban Institute, for example, has suggested "punishing" bad choices through a tax on fattening foods. Zagorsky, however, suggests a "positive reinforcement" approach: modify the food stamp program to include incentives to eat healthier.
Some cities are already doing just that. In Boston, "Bounty Bucks" double the value of food stamps at most local farmers' markets. Portable credit card readers at these markets allow shoppers to swipe their benefit cards to receive $20 in vouchers for every $10 in food stamps, The Boston Globe reports.
"It provides healthy, locally grown food to those who need it the most," Michel Nischan, president of Wholesome Wave, told the Globe. "It also benefits the farmers who grow the food."
Picture by clementine gallot via Flickr
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34 Comments
Add CommentFood Stamps do not lead to obesity. Policies that make it easier to purchase highly processed, high fat and high sugar foodstuffs (cheaper) over healthier options lead to poor food buying choices and obesity.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisDoubling stamp value for healthy foods sounds ok, whereas the idea of taxing certain foods as a form of punishment sounds like it came from someone who fears part(s) of themselves.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisCorrelation is not causation. I don't doubt that they found correlation. I am not sure I agree with the author's comments about the difficulty of buying nutritious food on a limited budget. My experience is that the more processed the foods, the more expensive. My bananas, milk, beans, chicken, etc. are relatively inexpensive. My soft drinks and chips are very expensive. I would be very interested in further exploration of other underlying common factors that could lead to the need for food stamps, and the lifestyle choices associated with body weight.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisTry to live on $81 a month and get good food. It is impossible these people get rice, beens, potatoes, hot dogs, eggs, cheese and maybe some milk. Probably a lot of ramen noodles too. You are not going to maitain your weight on a diet like that. They should get more food stamp money. I have never used food stamps but know some that needed them and it is not enough. These people need help more than that.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisjojo
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisGood point about correlation/causation. I'm sure we could find other correlating factors that do not cause obesity within the same survey. Nutritious food is not very expensive if you shop at a typical grocery store. In the majority of lower income neighborhoods that I have resided in or visited friends at have no "real" grocery store but instead have a corner store that accepts food stamps. These corner stores do not have any produce, the milk is $4 a gallon and the bread is overpriced as well. What I meant earlier about "real" grocery stores is a store who's profit isn't surrounded by junk food, cigarettes and alcohol but instead on , gasp, groceries. Another contributing factor may be that in order to leave the lower income neighborhood the people that reside in that neighborhood do not have transportation or the will to walk and instead take the short route. The fact of the matter is, we can find excuses for obesity in this country all day, but we need to realize there is no reason for it. Regardless of their upbringing you need to one day look in the mirror and realize that you are a person with responsibilities to yourself, your family and your country and make a better life for yourself and others. Break the cycle that has plagued your family for generations. It's too easy to give in to the easy path and just complain. It's much harder to get up, get out, and get something.
correlation/causation - a thought could be that those who use food stamps = those who live in poverty = a higher likelihood of experiencing depression = eating to sooth the depression. Depressed people often seek out foods that provide a (temporary) chemical relief of symptoms which are also foods that can trigger over eating (simple sugars and fat).
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHaving been on the upper edge of the poverty level for several years during and following my husband's two battles with cancer, and following his death at 39, I believe I can attest to the difficulty of feeding a family when your income is low. I too have a family history of obesity, and am now overweight. Obesity occurs for many reasons among them lack of personal responsibility, genetics, and stress due to life events. I have never used food stamps, but have found myself serving one square of American cheese divided on four biscuits to fill each of my three young tummies. High calories, but filling and appealing, and low budget.. Comparing pop and chips to bananas, milk and chicken is not necessarily relevant either. We simply did not have pop or chips, are you kidding, they are too expensive and do not fill tummies, and besides I do care about my children! Have you considered those single moms who work 8 hours, commute 1+ hours, and come home without much energy to make a nutritious meal? The kids have been home for hours with little supervision, and have more than likely snacked on whatever they could find. Mom is tired, the kids need guidance and a good meal, and it all takes money and effort. I would have loved receiving a bag of fruit and vegetables weekly. It would have seemed like Christmas! The farmer's market is a great idea, but not necessarily practical. I'd like to see more available to low income families at the grocery store. Eating healthy is expensive. Consider the comparison between a loaf of good whole grain bread, and cheap white bread. Consider the difference between vegetable soup for a family (7-8 ingredients) and ramen noodle soup. Until you've tried to live on little I don't believe you have the right to criticize and condemn struggling families.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOh please, food stamps have no calories, did anyone concider that a large percentage of recipiants are just lackadaisical and practice a sedentary lifestyle.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHas anyone ever considered that it is tougher for obese people to find a good job? Or perhaps one factor is as rootsxrocks speculates.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is a political study, not a scientific one, intended to advocate for higher welfare via food stamps.
As a checker, I can spot a food stamp order off the bat. Expensive meat, pop cans (they get to keep the deposit), chips, cold deli items. These are things that most of my shoppers consider a luxury item. They will add one or two but with food stamps it makes up the entire order. I wish it ran more like WIC where they get whole grain bread, veggies, milk, cheese, etc. I feel like I am paying to feed these people garbage and then pay higher rates when they face the consequences of their habits at the emergency room.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI moved from the "traditional" American unhealthy fat, salt, and chemical and sugar-laden fare to all fresh fruit, veg, whole grains, dairy, and meats that are as non-processed as it is possible to buy and as organic as I can find. My grocery bills went from about $80 a month for just me to nearly twice that. I had gained a 100 pounds between an injury and a divorce over the course of 2 years. At any rate, I have lost 65 pounds and have, obviously 45 to go. Also, to find this food, I must drive one hour to a neighborhood coop/health food store. Lucky for me, we do have a very small farmer's market and some fresh produce vendors in the summer. (I live in a poor rural community, even more devastated with the current economy). The closest grocery store is the Super Walmart or Aldi. Just try to find healthy foods at Walmart or Aldi. Avoid HFCS, etc. They cheapest way to get by is to buy dry beans, brown rice, lentils, chicken, and fresh fruit and veg. In this scenario, everything must be cooked from scratch. As a grad student, I cook as much as possible on the weekend and pack breakfast and lunch. Before this, when working, I worked 60 hours a week and commuted 20. I can't imagine how I would have found time to cook from scratch. And this is only cooking for ME to my tastes. If I had a family, we'd probably be eating frozen dinners or McDonald's, like everyone else.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAlso, one can argue that people watch too much TV. I agree. I watch about 3 hours a week and walk the dogs (and me) 7 hours a week. I know people who watch 3 hours or more a day. So there is a reasonable expectation that your average person could watch less TV and cook more.
But, in the family, who does the cooking? A wife working full time is generally expected to put food on the table, do the shopping, housework, and primary child-care (and elder-care), while the husband is freed from such mundane tasks. This inequity is troubling to me--and is well-documented.
The chronically poor do not have access to the time or money to drive an hour for healthy food. It is simply too expensive. Also, the working poor (usually two jobs per adult) do not have the time to prepare or find healthy foods. $81 a month in food stamps will get you processed meats and "convenience" foods. It will also ruin your health and kill you prematurely. This, on top of the stress of being broke and humiliated by needing government assistance.
Yes, this comment is all over the map; but so is the reality of this issue is that it is many issues.
Most people who receive food stamps live in inner city neighborhoods where they do not have access to full service grocery stores that carry healthy foods - and they do not have a car. The stores they have access to are corner convenience stores that carry little more than pop, chips, white bread and candy.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThat's why they are obese.
All previous studies on this problem (and there have been MANY) have come up with as many causes (AND solutions) as there are studies. This is a surprisingly complex problem. Studies as narrow in scope as this one are just a waste of tax dollars.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYou are so right healthy food is much more expensive than cheap if you are going organic and or nonprocessed.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThey are probably getting the rest at a food pantry. Food pantries typical do not have fresh meat or deli items - instead they have canned goods, boxed goods - and around here at least they do have fresh produce that people donate from their gardens in the summer.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisMy only concern is that cold deli items (prepared pasta salads, deli meats, etc.) are usually more expensive than just buying the ingredients. I really like the WIC program. Food Stamps could learn a lot from WIC. Public assistance can be harnessed to educate, more than just subsidize. I love that WIC recipients attend classes on healthy eating and cooking. Can you imagine if Food Stamps offered that service in addition to providing funds for healthy, wholesome foods?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI live in a small farm and ranch town in Western Colorado. We have the freshest, tastiest and healthiest food in the world right out the back door. There is no excuse of lack of transportation and the charities receive tons of game meat (very healthy) and daily fresh veggies donated for the few poor residents. The obesity rate here is phenomenal. Simply very lazy people eating way too much of the best food on earth. Eating too much is the problem...not food stamps.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAnother thought...A friend who is very successful said to me "It's hard to be thin when you're rich." Obesity is not just for the poor.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisYou must live in an amazing pocket of Colorado - your state has the lowest rate of obesity in the country, if I'm not mistaken.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe attribution of the problem to laziness and irresponsibility has only marginal merit, but lacks realism. Suppose that you have grown up in a neighborhood with no grocery store and have never had a 'food pyramid' diet? How are you supposed to be expected to make rational nutritional decisions without any kind of education on the matter? People are creatures of habit, and when you have grown up a certain way, you need some help breaking those habits. It is easy to ivory tower the issue and say they ought to know better, but doesn't work like that in reality.
And to those who say the ingredients are cheaper, I have to say I doubt you on that one, with certain exceptions. A few items are really cheaper - beans, rice and potatoes and bread, mostly. Many are not - the more perishable kinds of produce, bruisable items that are more expensive to ship, and non-seasonal produce, to name a few (http://www.mymoneyblog.com/archives/2007/01/what-does-200-calories-cost-the-economics-of-obesity.html). Berries and dairy products not cheap, either. Factor in time and inconvenience of travel to obtain the fresher food and you reach an unsustainable economic burden. "Food deserts" (http://www.marigallagher.com/site_media/dynamic/project_files/Chicago_Food_Desert_Report.pdf), areas without the regular sale of raw goods, exist in many of the same communities where the discussed populations live. Even when you find farmer's markets in these areas, the pricing is not such to promote lower-income shopping (and I've worked at a number of them myself, so you'll have a hard time contradicting me on this one), even when buying from the non-organic market.
If the raw economics of it aren't convincing (which they should be, if you're rational), then the sociology and geography of ti should be. If you find yourself still unconvinced, you need to take off your philosophical blinders and educate yourself - not rely on anecdotal 'evidence' or poor-bashing 'logic'.
Besides the fabulous educational outreach on healthy eating and cooking and healthy food subsidies that the WIC program provides, I am a huge fan of gleaners. If you put in a few hours of work, you get a box of windfalls, and slightly flawed produce. It is hard working two jobs, but it has more rewards than just the food. You get to meet with other folks who are in your same position and help build each other up. Fantastic resource networking and emotional support!
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAt least in Oregon, the staples are cheaper. True, winter means a lot of beans and rice, but cabbage is usually pretty cheap and you can always gussy it up with onions and diced tomatoes. I stock up when they are cheap. Powdered milk is another staple that gets you through the lean times. That says a lot that only convenience stores go into inner city neighborhoods, poor urban planning. That would make for a much harder life.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thiscableable2...2 bachelors, 2 masters and a doctorate. Don't tell me to educate myself. I spoke of my observations in my town. Notice that I said WESTERN Colorado. Small population, small towns. The kooks on the other side of the Rockies get all the attention and tax dollars. The vast majority of people moved to Colorado for a "healthy" lifestyle because they vacation here. Now Denver is a solid city from Wyoming to New Mexico. It is polluted, congested and ruined. Driving the freeways is like combat. I live 65 miles from the nearest freeway. I stand by my comments and challenge you to put down your book, which makes obesity a self sustaining industry, and look at the cold hard facts. EAT TOO MUCH...GET FAT. End of story.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisStudy something long enough and it will turn into a disease. We all make choices every day of our lives. Search hard enough and you can find someone who will tell you that your bad decisions in life are not your fault. I don't have a problem with people who choose to over consume. It's those who want to blame others that deserve ridicule. And if you are a skinny bitch from the suburbs who simply wants to over analyze the issue, I would only applaud you if you want to take the calories from the fat and redistribute them to the starving. THAT would be worthwhile.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIt seems that many people on food stamps just don't care. They don't care about nutrition; they don't care about bettering themselves; they don't care about their many children; they don't care if they are fat. Just a couple decades ago, the poor were always skinny.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisOn the other hand...if I were on a limited budget, I would make every calorie and dollar count. But the mindset in this country is that nothing is too good for the poor. I know this sounds right wing, but I'm a loyal Democrat and tired of the excuses, especially when I'm paying the bills.
As sad as it sounds, I must agree with notslic. I see a lot of poor choices coming across the checkstand. That is usually how I can spot a food stamp order. It makes me sad and angry because I can't afford to eat like they do (physically or financially). I get most upset over the pop cans. We have actually had to report a fella to Food Stamp Fraud Dept. who took the cans outside and dumped out the pop just to get the money back from the deposit. If there were regulations on the food that can be purchased with the food stamps like there is with the WIC program, things would be a lot better. They can only use their vouchers on wholesome, whole grain, cheese, milk, fresh or frozen veggies. On top of that, recipients are required to attend classes on healthy eating and lifestyle choices. Food Stamps could learn a lot from WIC
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThank you JGodfrey. My wife told me about the WIC program and I couldn't agree more. There are complex underlying reasons for WHY we have so many bad choices in life. I think the biggest is greed. There are also complex underlying reasons for why we make those bad choices. I think the biggest is self-pity. I have been very lucky in my life. But good luck comes from making good decisions. You sound reasonable enough that your good luck will come...I hope.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI agree with you. The WIC program is much better. My daughter is a cashier at a local grocery and she has noticed some of the same things as you - except she has not noticed too many deli items. She's the one who thinks that they are using food pantries for staples because they mostly buy meat and fortunately, some milk and cheese with the food stamps. They do not buy many fresh vegetables or fruits. Fortunately those on food stamps here have access to a decent grocery store - unlike their inner city counterparts.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisWhat a joke. Have you seen what is the shopping carts? 75% of it is junk food. It's alot easier to keep a kid busy with junk food than to make a meal. Stop all the junk food purchases and this might help. I seen people stop to buy gas and then use their food stamps to buy bags of candy. Limit the junk food.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI saw a blog about nutrition and obesity in the US recently that was really interesting: http://iconsinmedicine.wordpress.com/ It's too bad that food stamps and other programs don't allow for the purchase of more healthful foods.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe organization behind this blog (www.iconsinmed.org) seems to be working to provide consultations for specialty care in areas that don't have the doctors they need - seems like it really could help fix the problem of at least ensuring medical care.
I doubt that a gas station convenience store would take food stamps. If so, that should be changed. Not all places that sell food take food stamps. I really resent the implication that some have made here that every person who is down and out and needs food stamps is automatically lazy and stupid. I was unemployed for a fairly long period of time years ago during one of our country's many recessions and I assure you that I am neither lazy, nor stupid. I have always done the "right" thing all of my life, working my way through college paying my own way 100% and graduating in 3 1/2 years with honors. I have worked since I was 17 with few breaks except for that one period of unemployment and the times that I took maternity leave. To tell you the truth, I did not apply for food stamps when I was unemployed because of the some of the attitudes displayed here. I remember going in and applying for unemployment compensation and being treated like dirt by the staff and that was enough for me! I wasn't going to visit any other government offices after that - even though I had been paying for these services with my taxes for years!! As a result I became ill due to lack of good nutrition and access to health care. I f I had had children I would've had to swallow my pride and go in there and get those food stamps anyway.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAll I can say to those of you who despise the unfortunate is this: Judge not that ye be judged.
Out of curiosity, I checked food stamp allotments and the maximum benefits are $367 for a family of 2 and $668 for a family of 4. Here is the link http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/fs_Res_Ben_Elig.htm. This does not agree with the $81 per month cited in the article so some of these posts may not be relevant.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisI received food stamps for 2 months when I was in college while living in the student ghetto at Ohio State. I stretched them to 3 months and thought I was living the good life when I could buy hamburger. I could not afford to be obese. I think they could also find a correlation between obesity and education, depression, age, and perceived social status. I think the study is narrow and results in a simplistic, misleading conclusion.
Food stamps allotments are a lot more than cited in the study. Check the following http://www.fns.usda.gov/fsp/applicant_recipients/fs_Res_Ben_Elig.htm
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThe comments in this section probably say more about the blogger than the problem. Bill Maher's HBO show about a year ago featured an exchange between a poverty activist and Bill. The activist said people are in fact starving today in America. Bill responded that the poor in this country are fat. The exchange finally ended with Bill telling the insistent fellow that he would have to see it to believe it. Maher is not a conservitive but he does insist on verifiable info being asserted.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIf you receive Food Stamps (SNAP) then you qualify for a FREE cell phone and up to 250 minutes of monthly service through the Government’s Lifeline Program.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisLifeline Landing is a new service that allows consumers to compare and evaluate different wireless carriers for their FREE Government Cell Phone Service and find the best deal for their individual situation. Visit <a href="http://www.lifelinelanding.com">http://www.lifelinelanding.com</a> to learn more!