Economic Research Report No. (ERR-48) 42 pp

September 2007

Food and Nutrition Assistance Programs and Obesity: 1976-2002

Economic Research Reports present original economic analysis, findings and implications primarily for public and private decisionmakers' staff and researchers. This Economic Research Report analyzes multiple years of cross-sectional data to understand trends in the relationship between food assistance program participation and body weight. The purpose is to examine whether the relationship is consistent over time and across population subgroups.

Keywords: Food and nutrition assistance programs, food stamps, WIC, overweight, obesity, Body Mass Index, weight trends, National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

In this publication...