Start Date: November 2023

ID #: 81359

Principal Investigator: Lauren Au, PhD, RDN

Organization: Regents of the University of California

Funding Round: HER Round 13

See more related research

Share


Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC provide low-income children access to vital medical and nutrition services for long-term health and well-being. Despite these benefits, few studies have investigated if these safety net programs, or the synergistic combination of all three programs, are associated with diet quality and weight status; and none have focused on examining these longitudinal relationships during infancy and early childhood. The primary aim of the proposed project is to determine whether length of participation in Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC is associated with diet quality and weight status at 2-5 years. The secondary aim is to determine whether there are differences in infant diet quality by Medicaid, SNAP, and WIC participation status in relation to diet quality and weight status at 2-5 years, and to what extent differences at 2-5 years are explained through early infant diet quality. Together, these aims seek to address whether there is a synergistic benefit of safety net program participation on dietary quality and health. This study will be a secondary data analysis of a national, longitudinal cohort study of WIC participants (n=2858). Diet quality will be assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2020 (HEI-2020) and weight status will be assessed using body mass index z-scores (BMIz) at 2-5 years of age.

Related Research

July 2024

Shared Perceptions on Upstream Factors that Influence Water and Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Consumption Among Hispanic Families in the Greater Washington, DC, Metro Area: Qualitative Results From Focus Group Discussions

The study aimed to describe how Hispanic parents currently living in the greater Washington, DC, metro area and born outside of the United States, perceived upstream factors that influenced their current beverage choice. Six qualitative focus groups were conducted in Spanish in 2021. The five key findings were: Growing up (in their countries of origin More

June 2024

CACFP Family Childcare Home Sponsor Perspectives – Serious Deficiency Challenges

The federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, commonly known as CACFP, ensures over 4.2 million children, mostly in families with low income, receive nutritious meals and snacks in childcare. However, not all qualifying childcare providers participate in this beneficial program. Research suggests that the serious deficiency process, designed to ensure program integrity, may hinder More

April 2024

Mixed methods evaluation of the COVID-19 changes to the WIC cash-value benefit for fruits and vegetables

Recent cash-value benefit (CVB) increases are a positive development to help increase WIC participant fruits and vegetables (FV) access. This mixed method study aimed to evaluate (a) the CVB changes’ impact on FV access among WIC child participants measured by CVB redemption rates, (b) facilitators and barriers to CVB changes’ implementation, and (c) differences in More