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Socio-economic and behavioural factors are predictors of food use in the National Food Stamp Program Survey

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 March 2007

Alok Bhargava
Alok Bhargava*
Affiliation:
Department of Economics, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, USA
*
*Corresponding author: fax +1 713 743 3798, Email bhargava@uh.edu
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Abstract

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The unhealthy dietary patterns in the USA especially among low-income households demand complex strategies for health promotion. The present paper analysed the proximate determinants of 7 d food use by 919 participants in the National Food Stamp Program Survey conducted in 1996. The households' consumption of dietary energy, carbohydrate, protein, fibre, saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats, Ca, Fe, β-carotene and vitamin C were explained by background, socio-economic and behavioural factors. Certain methodological issues arising in modelling food use data were addressed. The results showed that the subjects' knowledge of the US Department of Agriculture food pyramid, reading nutrition labels, adopting a low-fat diet, selecting fruits and vegetables, saving money at grocery stores and frequency of shopping trips were often significantly associated (P>0·05) with the densities of nutrient use. The results identified certain aspects of nutrition education programmes that deserve greater emphasis for improving diet quality. The model for energy intake indicated that disbursing half the food stamp benefits on a 2-week basis and better shopping practices can enhance food availability.

Keywords

DietHungerFood stampsBehavioural factorsPoverty
Type
Research Article
Information
British Journal of Nutrition , Volume 92 , Issue 3 , September 2004 , pp. 497 - 506
Copyright
Copyright © The Nutrition Society 2004

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