USDA's domestic food and nutrition assistance programs increase food security by providing low-income households with access to food, a healthful diet, and nutrition education. Reliable monitoring of food security not only contributes to the effective operation of these programs, but also to the success of private food assistance programs and other government initiatives aimed at reducing food insecurity. This annual food security report provides statistics that guide planning for federal, state, and community food assistance programs.
The researchers studied the association between women's and children's duration of WIC participation and household food security status. Their results showed that among those with initial household food insecurity with hunger, an additional WIC visit reduced the odds of any household food insecurity and of household food insecurity with hunger at the last visit. Earlier and longer WIC participation might improve household food security status, particularly of vulnerable groups.
Throughout 2007, a total of 84% of US households with children were food secure, meaning that they had consistent access to adequate food for active, healthy lives for all household members. Nearly 16% of households with children were food insecure sometime during the year. These included 8.3% where children were food insecure, and 0.8% where one or more children experienced very low food security;the most severe food-insecure condition that the USDA measures. In 2007, federal food and nutrition assistance programs provided benefits to four out of five low-income, food-insecure households with children.
This study compared consumption patterns of WIC children with those of three different comparison groups: eligible non-participating children living in non-WIC households, eligible non-participating children living in WIC households, and children living in households whose income was too high to be eligible for WIC. The study provided strong evidence that participation in the WIC Program increased consumption of at least some types of WIC-approved foods.
The purpose of the study was to evaluate nutrient, food intake, and snacking behavior by participation in the WIC Program. The findings showed that WIC had a beneficial effect on the intake of fat, carbohydrates, added sugar, and fruit from the total diet, as well as on added sugar from snacks.
The researchers examines associations between WIC participation and indicators of underweight, overweight, length, caregiver-perceived health, and household food security among infants ages 12 months or younger, at six urban hospitals and clinics. Results showed that of the eligible families not receiving WIC assistance, 64% reported access problems, and 36% denied a need for WIC. Families who were not receiving WIC because of access problems were more likely to have underweight infants and experience food insecurity.
The purpose of this study was to determine whether household food insecurity was associated with adverse health outcomes in a sentinel population ages 36 months or younger. The study showed that compared with food-secure children, food-insecure children's odds of fair or poor; health were nearly twice as high, and their odds of being hospitalized since birth were almost a third higher. Effect modification occurred between Food Stamps and food insecurity; Food Stamps attenuated, but did not eliminate, associations between food insecurity and fair/poor health.
This study assessed the feasibility and efficacy of the Active Families Program, developed to increase outdoor play and decrease television viewing among preschool-aged children enrolled in the WIC Program. Compared with the children at baseline, the children at follow-up were more likely to watch television less than 2 hours per day and play outdoors for at least 60 minutes per day.
This study evaluated the success of a WIC-based intervention on changing food and beverage intake, physical activity, and TV viewing of children ages 1 to 5. The intervention influenced TV watching and fruit intake and was particularly protective for children ages 2 and younger. The results provided evidence that WIC is an appropriate setting for health behavior interventions to prevent obesity.
The Washington State WIC Program developed a module to be used at local WIC agencies to promote family meals. Results from the study indicated that there was a statistically significant increase in family meal participation in intervention agencies, compared with controls.
