Using the Food Stamp Program and other methods to promote healthy diets for low-income consumers.

摘要

Overconsumption of excessively sugared foods and beverages increases the risk of obesity, and people living in poverty are more likely to consume these nutrient-poor foods. This is one reason why low-income consumers suffer disproportionately from such health disparities as higher rates of hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, obesity, and dental disease. Excess consumption of beverages sweetened with sugar or high-fructose corn syrup (sugar-sweetened beverages, or SSBs) promotes both tooth decay and increased body weight in children while providing few or no essential nutrients. The average adolescent consumes about 357 calories in SSBs each day, 67% of which comes from carbonated soft drinks.