SNAP & Health
1 in 8 Americans lack adequate access to nutritious food, otherwise defined as being food insecure. SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides 42 million with access to nutritious food each year. The impact that SNAP has reaches far beyond the fridge—it actually improves families’ nutrition and makes people healthier.
The Center on Budget and Policy Priorities found that SNAP households have improved nutrition compared to low-income households that don’t receive SNAP. Generally, households that have higher food insecurity may be 53% more likely to develop chronic illnesses. Additionally, mothers who had access to SNAP gave birth to healthier babies, researchers found, and adults with access to SNAP in early childhood had lower risks of obesity and other conditions related to heart disease and diabetes.
As a result, people in food-secure households also spend roughly 45% less on medical care in a year ($4,200) than people in food-insecure households ($6,100). SNAP reduces food insecurity overall by as much as 30%. For almost one-third of households, SNAP can save families $1900 because they could afford to eat.
For seniors, the population that has the lowest participation rates among those who are eligible, SNAP is associated with a reduced likelihood of nursing home and hospital admissions among low-income elderly SNAP users, compared to low-income non-SNAP using counterparts (CBPP). More than 50% of mRelief’s clients are seniors (60 or older).
Food as a Human Right: mRelief holds the belief that food is a human right. SNAP liberates dollars to be spent on nutritious food that was not previously accessible to low-income families. In order to do anything, we must meet our basic needs. As M.F.K. Fisher said, “First we eat, then we do everything else.”
