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Policies and Regulations (Poster Session)

(P28-006-24) The Impact of Increasing SNAP Benefits on Sodium and Sugar Intake of SNAP-Eligible Single Men: Evidence From the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA)

Monday, July 1, 2024
12:45 PM – 1:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 76

    Presenting Author(s)

  • NR

    Nathan J. Ruhde, MPH

    Graduate Student Trainee
    Case Western Reserve University
    Cleveland, Ohio, United States

  • NR

    Nathan J. Ruhde, MPH

    Graduate Student Trainee
    Case Western Reserve University
    Cleveland, Ohio, United States

Disclosure(s):
Nathan J. Ruhde, MPH: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: Increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have no effect on calorie consumption among single men.
Increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have no effect on sugar consumption among single men.
Increased Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have no effect on sodium consumption among single men.

Methods: Dietary interview and demographic data were drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 1999-2018. To isolate the impact of SNAP specifically on sodium, sugar, and calorie intake, data were filtered down to single males with incomes of 130% or less of the poverty level (n = 5078). A set of three regression discontinuities was performed with a cut point centered around the beginning of 2009, when Congress passed an increase in SNAP benefits as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). One regression discontinuity was performed to assess the impact on calorie consumption. Another was performed to assess the impact on sugar consumption. Another was performed to assess the impact on sodium consumption. Another set of analogous regression discontinuities was performed after removing outliers, and another was performed using a second wave of NHANES data.

Results: The SNAP benefits in ARRA caused a significant increase in sodium intake (p < 0.05) amongst single men who qualified for the program, while showing no significant change in sugar or caloric intake (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The increase in sodium intake as a result of SNAP expansion suggests that the increased food security that SNAP provides might come at the expense of dietary quality in individuals using the program. The federal government should add dietary quality as a core focus to the SNAP program, and additional incentives through the program should focus on specifically incentivizing the purchase of healthier foods (e.g. fruits and vegetables).

Funding Sources: No funding was needed to complete this research.