I started my career with state of Texas, under the Health and Human Services Commissions. Specifically, I worked for the Office of Eligibility Services (OES). My direct tittle was Texas Worker Advisor. My duties include determining eligibility for Social Welfare programs such as: Medicaid, TANF (Temporary Aid for Needy Families), and the SNAP (Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program). While servicing Texas residents, I began to notice a trend of obesity amongst both children and adults.
As I continued to work, trends of recipient purchases began to standout whenever I went to the grocery store. For example, I notice that many local recipients appear to buy less nutritious choices. In Texas, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) ,otherwise known as food stamps, has expanded to include Fast Food purchases. Presently, research of the correlation between SNAP benefits and obesity revealed inconclusive. However, due to increasing trend of adult and child obesity amongst low-income households (Levi, et.al. 2012), change in the SNAP program is a necessity. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to provide important factors that require legislature to restricting unnecessary food choices and encourages healthier choices.
The
video above gives a brief outline of obesity worldwide. From the video, we learn that obesity is not
new or centered to one population. However, the most significant indicator of
this video is that the US is now the top nation with the heaviest residents.
Despite this, US origins were the opposite.
With no refrigeration, Pioneers ate fresh foods and used things from
their gardens. In order to eat, there
was a consistent element of physical toil. Meals regular consist of meat,
vegetables, and natural herbs. Candies and Sugar enhanced sweets were very
limited to special occasions due to the expense (Academic World Book, n. d.).
Moving
into the Progressive Era of 1900’s and beyond, illumination of the real story
behind the growing waste lines in the United States become more apparent. Influenced by the high flow of immigration of
the early 1900’s, US society began to look for faster ways to diversify,
obtain, and store food. Thru the
advantages of science, technology, and invention, the US began to incorporate
large supermarkets, develop preservatives, and freeze delicacies. As American society sought more convenience,
the toil and energy of the pioneer days was avoided. Meats, Vegetables, and
delicacies no longer require the effort of sweat. Stores and transportation became readily
available to any with the funds to spare.
Presently,
meal trends include chemically enhanced products, sugar, high carbohydrates,
and high fat. Addicted to immediacy of
fast food and low physical activity are leading the US population to a future
of even higher obesity levels amongst the population; increase medical issues
of diabetes, coronary disease, strokes, hypertension, and arthritis; and
increase expenses for medical care. To illustrate this review the follow:
Recent
studies report that in America more than 35% of US adult population are
obese. In this case, obese refers to
individuals with a Body Mass Index (otherwise known as body fat tissue) of 30
or more. Amongst children, America’s
situation is direr. CDC reports, “The
percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese
increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of
adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21%
over the same period” (CDC, 2014). If
the increasing number of obese children is permitted to progress without
intervention, it is possible that the next generation will die from obesity
related diseases before the current generation.
Legislature must make the implement to change SNAP distribution now.
Restriction
Does Not Mean Elimination
SNAP program provides nutritional
supplement for over 46 million people in the US. (USDA, 2014). The benefits of the SNAP program are as
follows (USDA, 2014):
·
Prevents Hunger
·
Generates income for Farmer Markets
·
Helps create new jobs
·
Stimulates the economy
The
SNAP program is a necessity to meet the food insecure households in the US. I
am not promoting the elimination of a program that helps feed many people. When
the SNAP program began decades ago, the program’s objective was to be a tool to
defeat poverty. Despite its objective,
it now pays for foods with little nutritional value. A study conducted by Andreyeva, Luedicke, and
et.al (2012) confirmed that approximately 1.7 to 2.1 billion dollars in sugary
drinks alone. It is important that purchases used by this
program truly benefit the families and not continue to propagate the further
economic disadvantages obesity can cause.
I want to encourage legislature to maintain current funding levels of
SNAP. However, we need to return the SNAP
program to its original purpose, which is to provide nutritional supplementation.
In this case, I am encouraging state legislature to limit of foods on SNAP that
have little nutritional value.
Make
the Healthier Unlimited
So, what changes can state
legislatures make to fight obesity for the food insecure? Amongst several items, the most notable is
removal of soda, sugar-sweeten beverages, and junk food. Bermudez & Gao's (2009) study revealed
that individuals with high intakes of sweetened beverages correlated with
abdominal obesity. Further support on
the negative effects of soda were found by Lueng, Laria, and et.al (2014). Their study focused on the effect soda has
on telomeres (the important part of human cells that affect how our cells
age). The authors concluded that regular
intake of soda will accelerate aging in your cells. Most recent research supported banning sugar
sweetened beverage lowered the prevalence of type 2 diabetes and obesity. Additionally, Payab & et.al. (2015), like many of their
predecessors, confirm that junk food consumption is correlated to high blood
pressure and obesity. Ease of access to
these foods is not helping the food insecure households. Yet, it leading these households to larger
expenses medically.
Second, I would like the state and
private companies to allow easier access to fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains. When I go shopping, I find the
healthier the product, the more expensive the price. For example, go to the market and price gluten
free bread versus generic white bread.
The price different ranges from cents to 5 dollars. On limited incomes, the healthier choices is
not always feasible. So, there needs to
be more incentives for the SNAP recipient to pursue healthier choices. Furthermore, more incentives needs to be given
to corporate to make healthier choices more income feasible.
Lastly, SNAP purchase should follow
the requirements of the food pyramid. Every
five years the US Department of Agriculture and the Department of Health and
Human Services (HHS) provide the primary foundation for National nutrition principles
and activities. Their recommendations
include caloric intake limitations, advice on food choices and physical
activities, and support overall good health for US society (USDA, 2014). SNAP purchase should allocated to align with
their recommendations.
Conclusion
In
conclusion, the US population’s health is steadily moving toward a dangerous
road. With the rise of obesity, our
population is weakened through the prevalence of obesity related diseases such
as diabetes, heart disease, neuropathy, and etc. Amongst households with low income, this
threat is even greater and impending. To
prevent further hurt to ourselves, legislature can support current and future
progeny by restricting unnecessary food choices and encourages healthier
choices with the SNAP program.
REFERENCES
Levi, J., Segal, L. M., St. Laurent, R., Lang, A.,
& Rayburn, J. (2012). F as in Fat: How Obesity
Threatens America’s
Future 2012. Retrieved from
http://www.rwjf.org/content/dam/farm/reports/reports/2012/rwjf401318
Pioneer life in America. (n.d). Academic World
Book. Retrieved from
library.ashford.edu/academic/article?id=ar431660
TheRichest. (2014, December 1). The Cost of Obesity in
America [Video file]. Retrieved from
Curator 1. (2012, December 11). History Of Obesity
Timeline at HistoWiki.com [Video file].
Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sEE3z8PRHY
Center for Disease Control Prevention, Adolescent and
School Health. (2014). Childhood
Obesity Facts. Retrieved
from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/facts.htm.
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Program Data. (2014).
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Program. Retrieved from
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Basu, S., Seligman, H. K., Gardner, C., &
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