Effects of food stamp participation on body weight and obesity

The effects of Food Stamp Program (FSP) participation on two separate but related outcome measures, a continuous body mass index (BMI) and a binary obesity indicator, were examined. Simultaneous-equation systems were used to accommodate the endogeneity of FSP participation. The health care cost related to the increased incidence of FSP-induced obesity was projected based on the estimated effects of FSP participation on body weight and obesity. Consistent with Gibson (2003), results obtained suggest a positive effect of FSP on both the prevalence of obesity and body weight among low-income women. In contrast, participation in the FSP does not have a significant effect on obesity or body weight of low-income men. Data indicate that there is a certain amount of health care cost associated with the increased incidence of obesity, which might be related to FSP participation.