The Vanishing Weight Gap: Trends in Obesity among Adult Food Stamp Participants (US) (1976-2002)

Abstract

High rates of obesity among low-income populations have led some to question whether USDA's food assistance programs have contributed to this health problem. Using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (NHANES), this study shows that the association between food assistance program participation and body weight measures has weakened over the past three decades. Earlier NHANES data show that program participants were more likely to be overweight than individuals who were eligible but not participating in the program. This was particularly true among white women. However, the more recent data show that these differences have vanished, as the BMI of the rest of the population has caught up to BMI levels of food stamps recipients.

Keywords: U.S. Food Stamp Program, BMI, Weight

JEL Classification: I1, I38, Q18