Research Links Food Stamps and Obesity

FoxNews ^ | Jan. 9, 2003 | Dan Springer

[FairOpinion]

For years now, Americans have been growing fatter. Studies show that the poor are even more likely than the average person to be obese.

Food stamps and other federal meal programs, he said, were launched at a time when hunger was a serious threat to the underprivileged. Today most of the poor have no problem getting enough to eat, according to Besharov.

In spite of the fact that millions of Americans have stopped receiving public assistance, the government spent $40 billion on food programs last year, more than ever before.

Besharov said that how much people eat is directly connected to how much they’re given.

"When we give poor families food stamps instead of cash, we know that they will consume 20 percent more food," Besharov said. "That might be great at a time of hunger and malnutrition, but at a time of obesity, that’s a mistake."

The overeating epidemic is growing fastest among poor kids: 16 percent of low-income children are either overweight or obese, twice the rate of other children.

That puts federally-funded school breakfast and lunch programs – which are mandated to provide 60 percent of students’ total daily caloric intake – under the microscope.

[FairOpinion]

Time to reevaluate the entire welfare and food stamps program, not to mention the school lunches, etc.

[Holden Magroin]

Republicans will never have the courage to eliminate a single New Deal/Great Society program. "Conservative" Bush has already proposed extending food stamps to immigrants.

[crystalk]

No, this is just the way it should be. All of the poor ought to be obese, for otherwise the nation's enemies in Europe and elsewhere will continue to try to charge and pillory the USA for supposedly mistreating the poor, and having hungry people here.

[CFC__VRWC]

This happened about 10 years or so ago. There's this tiny little town not far from where I live that has a single grocery store - a single-unit mom-and-pop operation. These folks had started selling live lobsters in their store, but they pulled the plug on it after only a few weeks. The owner told me that she had not sold a single lobster to someone who paid with their own money - every single lobster purchased was bought with food stamps.

That's why she stopped selling them - she said she just couldn't deal with working families having to buy hamburger while welfare slackers were dining on lobster - at the hamburger eater's expense.

[goodnesswins]

Bump for later....plus I read somewhere that Pres. Bush administration WAS re-evaluating the school lunch program - and supposedly going to start requiring parents to prove income levels.

[laurav]

A thought - on one hand, there's a growing obesity problem among the poor. On the other hand, I read a stat recently about the number of people who go to the gym more than 100 times a year being up dramatically. Most of these gym-goers (as you can imagine) have above average incomes. Perhaps we are reaching a point where one's size will be largely related to one's social class. I don't know what the implications of this are. Any ideas?

[FairOpinion]

Perhaps we are reaching a point where one's size will be largely related to one's social class.
----

Well, you konw what they say "You can never be too thin, or too rich"?

But we have to be careful -- next thing the Democrats will propose is Federally paid Gym memberships for the "poor" in addition to the food stamps. :(

[goodnesswins]

Interesting point (size related to social class) - used to be that the heavier you were the more you were held in high regard - because you had the wherewithal to "treat" yourself well.....

Now, I believe IT IS the opposite....people who have the "wherewithal" (money/education) take care of themselves - many who are in the lower socio-economic level do not. I have a sister who is at that lower level (poor people have poor habits)....she is overweight (always was a little) and her daughter is over 200 lbs at age 11. So sad, makes me truly MAD - but I believe it's also a sign of people who just GIVE UP.

[APBaer]

"Perhaps we are reaching a point where one's size will be largely related to one's social class. I don't know what the implications of this are."

The general rule was: "You cannot be too thin or too rich".

Howard Hughes disproved this conjecture.

[FairOpinion]

she is overweight (always was a little) and her daughter is over 200 lbs at age 11. So sad, makes me truly MAD - but I believe it's also a sign of people who just GIVE UP.

----
I hope they are getting medical help for the daughter, clearly she needs it.

I think there are a number of different reasons for obesity, including a combination of them: genetic, medical reason, poor habits, as you say, poor self image, i.e. "giving up" and just plain old gluttony. I think the gluttony is the one that is the easiest to address.

But sounds like in your sister's and niece's case, it could be genetic and/or a medical reason. Sometimes it's hard to tell, which came first, a medical reason makes it easier for some people to gain wait, and they get tired of the battle and give up.

In the case of the 11 year old, they mustn't give up.

Good luck and God bless -- help them take action, for the child's sake.

[capt. norm]

I would venture a guess that if one were able to accurately measure the percentage of those "children suffering from hunger" who are, in fact, overweight, it might prove enlightening.

An immigrant friend of mine observed that "your American poor people all seem to have color tv's, automobiles, and appear to be eating quite well ".

[laurav]

Federally paid Gym memberships for the "poor"

In a way this is what the push for daily gym class in public schools amounts to.

[goodnesswins]

I have tried encouraging my sister, but she's kind of a loose cannon (kind way to put that she's a little crazy) and I think my niece's problems stem from emotional issues....it's a long story, and a difficult situation. I'm just trying to provide "examples" and I think my niece likes and respects me enough to watch and listen to me, but I don't see her much....so.....I cannot do much.

[laurav]

your American poor people all seem to have color tv's, automobiles, and appear to be eating quite well

Yep- gym membership costs less than cable. So it's not just that people don't have money to take care of themselves. There's also a choice being made. So it wouldn't have to relate to social class (walking/biking is healthier and cheaper than owning a car) yet it does. I'm not sure why.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Check the food that is purchased with food stamps. It's all junk and processed food. Chips, Mac N Cheese, pop, cereal, all loaded with carbs and sugar.

If people were buying healthy food they wouldn't be obese.

[laurav]

If people were buying healthy food they wouldn't be obese.

So what does one do to change this? Given all the useless information schools tend to impart (I know the 3 types of clouds!) you'd think something like nutrition, which is actually useful, would be included. Yet I don't think in most schools it's presented in any compelling manner ... just another unit to sleep through in health class, until you get to the more fun unit (ha!) on condoms.

[mark beoluke]

I work at a grocery store. They always put the least nutritional juke food on sale. Yep, the welfare people sure enough buy enough. BTW, does anybody know how any fast food restaurant could (legal or illegally) accept food stamps? In Michigan we now have the electonic EBT system so how would they process such an order?

[Mo1]

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[dfwgator]

Hey, I've eaten food stamps for years and haven't gained a pound. ;)

[jennyp]

There has been some talk in the media lately about how the USDA Food Pyramid is obsolete and how it recommends too many carbs & not enough good fats. It's a start.

Then of course there's the resurrection of Atkins' reputation with the NY Times article that came out this summer. ("What if it's all been a big fat lie?" I think was the title.)

I do think the low-carb diet may be experiencing its Tipping Point.