Food Stamp Recipients More Likely To Be Obese, Study Finds (Miami, examples)
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There are college students, military, ex-military are low income I don't know if it's choice not to accept SNAP but it's a fact that in very poor neighborhoods there are very few alternatives in addition to a lack of education.
Yes, it's a choice. Income-eligible nonparticipants also live in very poor neighborhoods. BUT, their obesity rate is much lower than the SNAP recipients' obesity rate.
Interesting study:
Quote:
"Obesity has been linked to poverty, so the researchers took into account income and a variety of other factors – including race and education -- that may have also affected the weight of survey participants, outside of the use of food stamps.
In addition, the study compared people who lived in the same counties, to take into account that there may be local factors that affect obesity rates.
Even after the various controls, the link between food stamp use and higher weight remained clear, especially for women.
While female food stamp users in general had an average BMI that was 1.24 points higher than those not in the program, white women’s BMI was 1.96 points higher, while black women’s BMI was 1.1 points higher.
Male food stamp users, both white and black, did not have significantly higher BMIs than those not in the program.
Additional evidence of food stamps’ role in weight gain came when the researchers looked at how people’s BMI changed before, during and after they were on food stamps.
Results showed BMI increased over all three periods, but increased the most when participants were on food stamps."
It makes sense that women would be impacted the most by food stamp-caused obesity, and here's why... they're the ones most likely getting food stamps to provide the very same free breakfasts and lunches provided to their kids at school. Duplication of benefits is providing them too much food.
Why isn't that same food causing the poor who don't get SNAP benefits to become obese at the same rate?
Well if you could actually link to a website that details what low income actually eat, we could have a meaningful discussion than simply reposting financial reports.
Edit.... Finally you post something more meaningful.
Well if you could actually link to a website that details what low income actually eat, we could have a meaningful discussion than simply reposting financial reports.
I already posted info from a study that established a link between SNAP participation and increased obesity.
The OIG report has nothing to do with NHANES, nor obesity. The OIG wouldn't disagree or agree because you are comparing apples to oranges at the moment. The OIG is an auditor-like entity for governmental agencies. It does not conduct health-based studies like the CDC.
The OIG report never made any confirmatory statements, maybe you just misread the report and misunderstood its purpose? The report noted the types of FNS programs available, (such as WIC, SNAP, Milk), and the percentage of daily nutrients particular programs individually provide, in example, 100% or 25%, etc. Each program has a different amount of participants, which was listed, however, the OIG never provided any numerical confirmatory data demonstrating overlap, it had no means to discern.
The FNS/USDA in response to the OIG Report stated:
As noted in this report, FNS believes that the network of nutrition assistance programs that make up the national nutritional safety net reflects Congress’ recognition of a diversity of needs, and does not present evidence of overlap and duplication. The OIG’s report does not offer any substantive evidence to refute this view. While the recommended feasibility study might provide additional information on potential duplication and overlap, it would also divert limited resources away from other pressing issues of greater policy relevance.
So, to summarize, FNS and the USDA, which administers SNAP, concluded the OIG review did not provide substantive evidence of excess food assistance programming, nor overlap or duplication of any of the 15 FNS programs, including SNAP. The USDA is basically stating its a non-issue, there is no substantive evidence of overlap, and with this, a causal link between SNAP use, potential overlap, and obesity cannot be asserted in our discussion, because there's no confirmatory data in the OIG report to even make this inference.
You're hypothesis about SNAP receipt (and overeating or obesity) cannot be confirmed, inferred, supported, or discounted/disproved using the data contained in these two reports. There is no data provided regarding the amount of people that are in overlapping groups, which types of combined groups they may be, what their dietary daily nutrition is valued at percentage wise, how long there was an overlap if one existed, how many household members, their age, school attendance, etc. With this all in mind, you cannot claim people are being overfed because there's no data available to demonstrate this, and no means possible based upon the reports to establish a causal link (without conducting a study), either.
Just out of curiosity, what is more important to you--individual health and obesity prevention or assurance tax dollars are not being wasted?
Maybe we need to treat them like adults and give them a check that covers their food plus whatever they are currently receiving in TANF benefits. In Nevada a single parent with 2 kids gets $383 in cash benefits plus around $500 in SNAP. If she got a check for $883, she could at least afford a $500 apartment and I bet that by having a proper kitchen to cook healthy meals in she could feed herself and the kids on the $383 left after rent. Right now these women are frequently homeless or 'sofa surfing' because there is nothing to rent for $383 a month and the wait list for section 8 is 3 or 4 years.
I've never been that poor, but I've thought about it and I've spent a lot of time working with poor women, and sometimes I see them buy food they don't need but they act like they are buying a 'treat' for themselves and their kids..maybe that's what you do in that situation if you can't go to a movie, or buy yourself a dress, or buy your kids a toy..you make it up to yourself and them by buying food treats.
We can’t prove that the Food Stamp Program causes weight gain, but this study suggests a strong linkage,” said Jay Zagorsky, co-author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research.
“While food stamps may help fight hunger, they may have the unintended consequence of encouraging weight gain among women.”
Based on these findings, the Food Stamp Program may have a significant impact on America’s obesity rate. In 2008 about 28 million people, or almost 1 in 11 residents, received benefits from the program in a given month.
Not to mention, they used entirely different data to reach their "strong linkage". Not the data you kept copying and pasting....
Lastly from YOUR article:
Quote:
From the data they have, the researchers can’t tell for sure why food stamps seem to lead to unhealthy eating practices, Zagorsky said. But there are clues.
Government statistics showed that the average recipient received $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.”
That’s because calorie-dense, high-fat, processed foods tend to be less expensive than more healthy choices.
Zagorsky said policymakers should aim at changing the types of food that program participants purchase.
Those on food stamps could be required to take a course on nutrition. In addition, recipients who purchase fresh fruit and vegetables and other low-fat products could be given more benefits or receive discounts on these products, he said.
“Modifying the Food Stamp Program to include economic incentives to eat healthier might be an important tool for fighting obesity,” Zagorsky said.
"We can’t prove that the Food Stamp Program causes weight gain, but this study suggests a strong linkage,” said Jay Zagorsky, co-author of the study and a research scientist at Ohio State University’s Center for Human Resource Research. From the data they have, the researchers can’t tell for sure why food stamps seem to lead to unhealthy eating practices, Zagorsky said."
Oh, looky here. What is Jay Zagorsky, researcher, stating from the article that was listed?
From the data he has, HE CANNOT ASSIGN CAUSE.
It's like he was reading my mind.
I don't usually use this smiley, but, I think it's due.
"The study also found that people’s BMI increased faster when they were on food stamps than when they were not, and increased more the longer they were in the program.
...Based on these findings, the Food Stamp Program may have a significant impact on America’s obesity rate.
.. Additional evidence of food stamps’ role in weight gain came when the researchers looked at how people’s BMI changed before, during and after they were on food stamps.
Results showed BMI increased over all three periods, but increased the most when participants were on food stamps."
Yes, it's a choice. Income-eligible nonparticipants also live in very poor neighborhoods. BUT, their obesity rate is much lower than the SNAP recipients' obesity rate.
It makes sense that women would be impacted the most by food stamp-caused obesity, and here's why... they're the ones most likely getting food stamps to provide the very same free breakfasts and lunches provided to their kids at school. Duplication of benefits is providing them too much food.
The demographics are different when you compare SNAP recipients to general low income. Poor that are supported by a family member, college students may not necessarily live in a poor area.
It was pointed out in the article that trying to find food in a place like Anacostia is quite different than middle class neighborhoods.
The demographics are different when you compare SNAP recipients to general low income. Poor that are supported by a family member, college students may not necessarily live in a poor area.
It was pointed out in the article that trying to find food in a place like Anacostia is quite different than middle class neighborhoods.
Again...
Quote:
"Obesity has been linked to poverty, so the researchers took into account income and a variety of other factors – including race and education -- that may have also affected the weight of survey participants, outside of the use of food stamps.
In addition, the study compared people who lived in the same counties, to take into account that there may be local factors that affect obesity rates.
Even after the various controls, the link between food stamp use and higher weight remained clear, especially for women.
While female food stamp users in general had an average BMI that was 1.24 points higher than those not in the program, white women’s BMI was 1.96 points higher, while black women’s BMI was 1.1 points higher.
Male food stamp users, both white and black, did not have significantly higher BMIs than those not in the program.
Additional evidence of food stamps’ role in weight gain came when the researchers looked at how people’s BMI changed before, during and after they were on food stamps.
Results showed BMI increased over all three periods, but increased the most when participants were on food stamps."
And as I mentioned... It makes sense that women would be impacted the most by food stamp-caused obesity, as they're the ones most likely getting food stamps to provide the very same free breakfasts and lunches provided to their kids at school. Duplication of benefits is providing them too much food, as the OIG noted.
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