Federal Nutrition Programs and Childhood Obesity: Inside the Black Box

40 Pages Posted: 22 Nov 2010

See all articles by Manan Roy

Manan Roy

Southern Methodist University (SMU)

Daniel L. Millimet

Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Department of Economics; IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Rusty Tchernis

Georgia State University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); IZA Institute of Labor Economics

Abstract

In response to the dramatic rise in childhood obesity, particularly among low income individuals, federal nutrition assistance programs have come under scrutiny. However, the vast majority of this research focuses on the direct relationship between these programs and child health, while little is known about the mechanisms by which such relationships arise. Using the 2007 American Time Use Survey and the Eating and Health Module, we explore differences in time use across families that participate in the Supplemental Nutriation Assistance Program (SNAP), the School Breakfast Program (SBP), and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) to better understand behavioral differences across participants and non-participants. These differences have important implications for future research and policy.

Keywords: School Breakfast Program, National School Lunch Program, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, time use, program evaluation

JEL Classification: C31, H51, I18, I28

Suggested Citation

Roy, Manan and Millimet, Daniel L. and Tchernis, Rusty, Federal Nutrition Programs and Childhood Obesity: Inside the Black Box. IZA Discussion Paper No. 5316, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1712623 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1712623

Manan Roy (Contact Author)

Southern Methodist University (SMU) ( email )

6212 Bishop Blvd.
Dallas, TX 75275
United States

Daniel L. Millimet

Southern Methodist University (SMU) - Department of Economics ( email )

Box 750496
Dallas, TX 75275
United States
214-768-3269 (Phone)
214-768-1821 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http:\\www.smu.edu\~millimet

IZA Institute of Labor Economics

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

Rusty Tchernis

Georgia State University - Department of Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 3992
Atlanta, GA 30302-3992
United States

HOME PAGE: http://www2.gsu.edu/~ecort

National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) ( email )

1050 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
United States

IZA Institute of Labor Economics ( email )

P.O. Box 7240
Bonn, D-53072
Germany

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