This study examined the relationship between Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation and the obesity of low income individuals using data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979. Obesity was defined as body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m2. The data were arranged as a panel with multiple observations per individual, and the models of obesity included current and long-term FSP participation, additional demographic, socioeconomic and environment characteristics and individual fixed effects. Individual fixed effects were used to take into account unobserved differences across individuals that did not vary over time. In ordinary least squares models, current and long-term FSP participation were significantly related to the obesity of low income women (P < 0.05), but not of low income men. For low income women, current participation in the FSP was associated with a 9.1% increase in the predicted probability of current obesity. Participation in the FSP in each of the previous five years compared to no participation over that time period was associated with approximately a 20.5% increase in the predicted probability of current obesity. These models did not control for food insecurity, and this omission potentially complicates the interpretation of the FSP participation variables.
Key words:
obesity
food stamps
economic disadvantage
women
Abbreviations used:
AFDC
Aid to Families with Dependent Children
AFQT
Armed Forces Qualifying Test
CSFII
Continuing Survey of Food Intakes by Individuals
FS
food stamps
FSP
Food Stamp Program
NEP
Nutrition Education Plan
NLSY79
National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1979
OLS
Ordinary Least Squares
WIC
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children
Presented in preliminary form at: the School of Public Affairs at Baruch College, May 7, 2001 [Gibson, D., Food Stamp Program Participation and Obesity]; the Joint Center for Poverty Research/USDA Research Development Grants Workshop, May 11, 2001 [Gibson, D., Food Stamp Program Participation and Obesity]; the USDA Food Assistance and Nutrition Research Small Grants Conference, October 12, 2001[Gibson, D., Food Stamp Program Participation and Obesity]; and the Annual Research Conference of the Association for Public Policy and Management, November 3, 2001 [Gibson, D., Food Stamp Program Participation and Obesity].
