Dataset Information

Relation between the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program cycle and dietary quality in low-income African Americans in Baltimore, Maryland.

ABSTRACT:

Background

There has been limited research regarding the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and recipients' dietary quality during the days and weeks after benefit disbursement.

Objective

We examined the relation between participants' stages in the SNAP cycle and their macronutrient consumption, Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores, and fruit and vegetable intake.

Design

In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed single 24-h dietary recalls collected from 244 African American SNAP participants recruited near 24 corner stores in Baltimore City. A multiple linear regression analysis and bootstrapping were used.

Results

Among participants who received a SNAP benefit ?15 d before being surveyed, energy intake adjusted for minimum energy requirements (-4.49%; 95% CI: -8.77%, -0.15%) and HEI dairy scores (-0.12; 95% CI: -0.22, -0.01) were lower for each 1-d increase in the time since SNAP distribution (TSSD). Among participants who received SNAP benefits >15 d before being surveyed, energy intake (1.35%; 95% CI: 0.01%, 2.73%), energy intake adjusted for minimum energy requirements (3.86%; 95% CI: 0.06%, 7.96%), total fat intake (1.96%; 95% CI: 0.29%, 3.8%), saturated fat intake (2.02%; 95% CI: 0.23%, 4.01%), and protein intake (2.09%; 95% CI: 0.70%, 3.62%) were higher per each 1-d increase in the TSSD.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that the relation between the TSSD and macronutrient intake might be U-shaped, with higher intake of calories, fat, and protein in individuals in the very early and late stages of their SNAP cycles. Foods high in these nutrients might be cheaper, more accessible, and have a longer shelf-life than healthier options, such as fruit, vegetables, and whole grains, for SNAP participants when their benefits run out. Additional efforts are needed to investigate the effect of the TSSD on dietary intake by using a longitudinal design and to improve the quality of dietary intake in African American SNAP participants.

SUBMITTER: Kharmats AY

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3985207 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

ACCESS DATA

Publications

Relation between the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program cycle and dietary quality in low-income African Americans in Baltimore, Maryland.

Kharmats Anna Y AY Jones-Smith Jessica C JC Cheah Yun Sang YS Budd Nadine N Flamm Laura L Cuccia Alison A Mui Yeeli Y Trude Angela A Gittelsohn Joel J

The American journal of clinical nutrition 20140312 5

<h4>Background</h4>There has been limited research regarding the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) and recipients' dietary quality during the days and weeks after benefit disbursement.<h4>Objective</h4>We examined the relation between participants' stages in the SNAP cycle and their macronutrient consumption, Healthy Eating Index (HEI) scores, and fruit and vegetable intake.<h4>Design</h4>In this cross-sectional study, we analyzed single 24-h dietary recalls collected from 244 A ...[more]

PMID: 24622807

Similar Datasets

Project description:ImportanceFood insecurity is associated with high health care expenditures, but the effectiveness of food insecurity interventions on health care costs is unknown.ObjectiveTo determine whether the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which addresses food insecurity, can reduce health care expenditures.Design, setting, and participantsThis is a retrospective cohort study of 4447 noninstitutionalized adults with income below 200% of the federal poverty threshold who participated in the 2011 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and the 2012-2013 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS).ExposuresSelf-reported SNAP participation in 2011.Main outcomes and measuresTotal health care expenditures (all paid claims and out-of-pocket costs) in the 2012-2013 period. To test whether SNAP participation was associated with lower subsequent health care expenditures, we used generalized linear modeling (gamma distribution, log link, with survey design information), adjusting for demographics (age, gender, race/ethnicity), socioeconomic factors (income, education, Social Security Disability Insurance disability, urban/rural), census region, health insurance, and self-reported medical conditions. We also conducted sensitivity analyses as a robustness check for these modeling assumptions.ResultsA total of 4447 participants (2567 women and 1880 men) were enrolled in the study, mean (SE) age, 42.7 (0.5) years; 1889 were SNAP participants, and 2558 were not. Compared with other low-income adults, SNAP participants were younger (mean [SE] age, 40.3 [0.6] vs 44.1 [0.7] years), more likely to have public insurance or be uninsured (84.9% vs 67.7%), and more likely to be disabled (24.2% vs 10.6%) (P?<?.001 for all). In age- and gender-adjusted models, health care expenditures between those who did and did not participate in SNAP were similar (difference, $34; 95% CI, -$1097 to $1165). In fully adjusted models, SNAP was associated with lower estimated annual health care expenditures (-$1409; 95% CI, -$2694 to -$125). Sensitivity analyses were consistent with these results, also indicating that SNAP participation was associated with significantly lower estimated expenditures.Conclusions and relevanceSNAP enrollment is associated with reduced health care spending among low-income American adults, a finding consistent across several analytic approaches. Encouraging SNAP enrollment among eligible adults may help reduce health care costs in the United States.

Dataset Information

Relation between the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program cycle and dietary quality in low-income African Americans in Baltimore, Maryland.

Background

Objective

Design

Results

Conclusions

Publications

Relation between the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program cycle and dietary quality in low-income African Americans in Baltimore, Maryland.

Similar Datasets

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