Americans on Food Stamps are more likely to be Obese, Study Reports

Americans who are on food stamps are more likely to be obese, a new government study found.

For this U.S. Department of Agriculture study, the researchers examined data collected from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The information, which included the individual's diet, spanned from 2007 to 2010.

The researchers found that 40 percent of the people who were on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) could be categorized as obese. In the group of poor Americans who could qualify for SNAP but did not receive it, 32 percent of them were obese. Only 30 percent of higher-income Americans were considered obese.

The team noted that the findings were correlations and do not state that SNAP causes obesity. However, researchers have acknowledged how income can affect people's food and beverage options.

"Within a mile and a half of my house, there are four supermarket chains plus Trader Joe's, plus a Whole Foods, plus a farmers market on the weekend," Kevin Concannon, the USDA's undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services said reported by The Huffington Post. "Versus on the east side of the Anacostia River [in Southeast Washington], some of those chains aren't even there, so the choices just immediately are very different."

From the study, the researchers also found that even though SNAP recipients consumed more sugar-sweetened beverages like soda, they did not always eat worse than the people from the other two groups. SNAP recipients were less likely to consume salty snacks and sweets.

"To me, the data suggests that all Americans ought to be eating healthier," Concannon concluded.

The study was released Tuesday, May 12.