of 2014, it is projected that the food stamp benefits for a family of four will drop by $59 a month (curiously, the amendment to cut roughly $35 billion in oil and gas subsidies failed to pass just one month prior).
More than 1,400 organizations from around the country have voiced
their opposition by signing a letter to Congress. They have emphasized that of the 40 million Americans who depend on SNAP, 41 percent had incomes at or below one half of the poverty line, nearly half are children, and benefits already averaged less than $4.50 per person per day even after the ARRA boost.
IV. Review of Literature/State of Analytical Knowledge
High levels of food insecurity have been shown to correlate well with
high levels of obesity (Dinour, Bergen, & Yeh 2007). Obesity is commonly known to lead to other problems such as Type II Diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension. In the United States, efforts to curb food insecurity and obesity epidemics have been implemented through the Food Stamp Program (FSP), which later became referred to as SNAP. Despite these efforts, data suggest that FSP participation has has had a limited effect on the food insecurity problem (Wilde 2007). Consequently, obesity is still prevalent and thus the excess health costs associated with obesity are still widespread. While the Food Stamp Program has yet to fulfill its purpose, data shows that preventative measures to combat food insecurity and obesity have been cost-effective, especially among children (Wang, Yang, Lowry, & Wechsler 2003).
a). General Food Insecurity Impacts on Nutrition and Health
How does food insecurity impact nutrition and health? Studies have
shown that individuals from food insecure households are likely to have poor health practices, higher BMI, and higher possibility of developing Type II Diabetes due to their food consumption patterns. 106
Excellence in Upper-Level Writing 2012