Strong national policies can play an important role in preventing and reducing obesity, including by supporting programs and initiatives that help ensure people have access to healthy, affordable foods. SNAP provides short-term financial support to individuals and families furthest from economic opportunity. It is the nation’s largest nutrition assistance program and is designed to respond to times of increased need. Two-thirds of participants are children, older adults, and people with disabilities. The average SNAP participant in FY18 received $126.00 per month.
Research has shown that SNAP reduces1 poverty, benefits the economy, improves food insecurity, and even benefits children’s health and academic performance. In addition, children with access to SNAP show lower risk2 for high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and other poor health outcomes as they get older.
