will take measurements of all household member’s BMIs. The standard BMI calculation will be used for this monthly measurement. Heights and weights of each study participant will thus be recorded for this calculation. This survey, healthcare cost data collection, and BMI measurements will occur longitudinally. Measurements will be taken at the end of each month/ food stamp cycle. All healthcare costs that are related to the treatment of obesity-related illnesses will be considered as a part of this study. The longitudinal survey that we will conduct is intended to properly assess the nutritional value of these household’s diets. Some of the proposed study questions are listed directly below: (i) What would be your best estimate as to the number of fruits and/or vegetables consumed weekly per/person in your household? (ii) What would be your best estimate as to the number of processed or frozen foods consumed weekly per/person in your household? (iii) As time since receiving monthly food stamps increases does difficulty to afford nutritious foods (list provided to them) increase? (iv) When during your monthly benefit cycle do you eat the most? (v) Is your food consumption stable throughout the month, or greatest at one point? (vi) Have you or anyone in your family been diagnosed with any of the following diseases (Type II diabetes, Cardiovascular Disease, Hypertension, etc.) (vii) Does the monthly stipend from the SNAP program allow your family to afford the FDA suggested nutritional values? (viii) Would you generally say your food consumption has increased or decreased over the past month? In order to conclude that cuts to food stamps do in fact lead to a decrease in food sufficiency and access to healthy foods, thus increasing obesity and obesity-related illnesses, we assume that the affordability of healthy foods is the primary factor influencing obesity rates. While other societal, institu116
Excellence in Upper-Level Writing 2012