Does Participation in the Food Stamp Program Affect the Prevalence of Obesity and Health Care Spending?

Meyerhoefer, Chad D.; Pylypchuk, Yuriy

doi:10.2139/ssrn.921605

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Does Participation in the Food Stamp Program Affect the Prevalence of Obesity and Health Care Spending?

48 Pages Posted: 2 Aug 2006

See all articles by Chad D. Meyerhoefer

Yuriy Pylypchuk

Social and Scientific Systems, Inc.

Date Written: July 2006

Abstract

We use panel data techniques and information on state-level Food Stamp Program (FSP) characteristics to obtain unbiased estimates of the impact of FSP participation on weight status and health care spending among non-elderly adults. Our results suggest that program participation by women leads to a 5.9 percent (p=.07) increase in their likelihood of overweight and obesity, which is smaller than previous estimates, and to higher medical expenditures. The direct effect of FSP participation on medical spending through higher discretionary income is significantly larger than the indirect effect through changes in weight status.

Keywords: Food Stamp Program, Obesity, Medical Expenditures, Panel Data

JEL Classification: I1, I38

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Meyerhoefer, Chad D. and Pylypchuk, Yuriy, Does Participation in the Food Stamp Program Affect the Prevalence of Obesity and Health Care Spending? (July 2006). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=921605 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.921605