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Abstract
Results from reviewed studies indicate that for most participants in the Food Stamp
Program—children, nonelderly men, and the elderly—use of food stamp benefits does
not result in an increase in either Body Mass Index (BMI) or the likelihood of being
overweight or obese. However, for nonelderly women, who account for 28 percent of
the food stamp caseload, some evidence suggests that participation in the Food Stamp
Program may increase BMI and the probability of obesity. Different results for age and
sex subgroups remain unexplained. Further, because food stamp benefits are issued to
households, not individuals, mixed results across age and sex subgroups make it difficult to target policy alternatives to address potential weight gain among some participants while not affecting others in the household.