The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been an important food safety net for more than 50 years. There is a problem, though: The program has no nutrition standards – meaning 45 million Americans could face health problems due to unhealthy diets. A policy statement from the American Heart Association examining the program recommends keeping it strong while improving diet quality.

Strong nutrition standards are important because studies show diets heavy in sugary drinks, processed foods, and other low-nutrient foods can increase risk for heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, and other health problems.

THE HEALTH IMPACT

72% of sugary drinks

purchased in SNAP households were paid for with SNAP benefits.

61% more sugar-sweetened

beverages purchased by SNAP participants compared

to non-participants.

Research has found DIET QUALITY to be worse FOR SNAP PARTICIPANTS:

Research shows

increasing the monthly

SNAP benefit improves

diet quality.

How can we

FIX IT? 39% fewer

whole grains

46% more

red meat

SNAP RECIPIENTS CONSUMED

than non-SNAP participants

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION EXAMINES THE SNAP PROGRAM AND RECOMMENDS KEEPING IT STRONG WHILE IMPROVING DIET QUALITY

OTHER PROBLEMS

1 CMS, 2013 2 Sonik RA, Massachusetts Inpatient Medicaid Cost Response to Increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Benefits, Am J Public Health. 2016 March; 106(3): 443–448.3 CMS, 2012 4 Shi Y, Sears LE, Coberley C, Pope JE, Journal of occupational and environmental medicine · April 2013, DOI: 10.1097/JOM.0b013e3182851923 5 Clark LL, Taubman SB., Update: Diagnoses of overweight and obesity, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2011-2015, MSMR, 2016 Sep;23(9):9-13). 6 Clark LL, Taubman SB., Update: Diagnoses of overweight and obesity, active component, U.S. Armed Forces, 2011-2015, MSMR, 2016 Sep;23(9):9-13).

7.8% OF THE DEFENSE DEPARTMENT'S ACTIVE-DUTY

FORCES WERE DIAGNOSED as overweight or obese in 2015,

up from 4.5% in 2011.6

73% INCREASE WAS SEEN IN

OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY DIAGNOSES AMONG MILITARY

SERVICE MEMBERS of all age groups over

five years.5

73% of Medicaid cost growth fell in

Massachusetts after SNAP benefits increased-especially for people with chronic illnesses with high

sensitivity to food insecurity2

T�payers pay for the healthcare c�ts OF DIET-RELATED CHRONIC DISEASE.

93% of Medicare spending goes to fee-for-service beneficiaries with multiple chronic conditions3 according to Centers for

Medicare and Medicaid Services.

of Medicaid beneficiaries account for1% 25%

of total Medicaid �penditures. Among this top 1%, 83% have at least three chronic conditions

and more than 60% have five or more chronic conditions.1

Unhealthy diets can lead to lower JOB PRODUCTIVITY, ABSENTEEISM, AND DIMINISHED MILITARY READINESS.

7%

REDUCTION IN JOB PERFORMANCE FOUND AMONG EMPLOYEES

with unhealthy diets.4

Research estimates banning sugary drink purchases through SNAP could avert 52,000 heart attack and stroke deaths over the decades and many thousands of diabetes cases.

How can we FIX IT?

Several initiatives have shown it’s feasible

to adjust the SNAP program to improve

nutrition without increasing stigma on the

beneficiaries or burden on the retailers.

How can we

FIX IT?