Federal Nutrition Assistance Programs and UltraProcessed Food Intake among Preschool-Aged Children.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Among children in the United States, ultraprocessed foods (UPFs) account for ∼67% of daily calories, reflecting a low-quality diet. Among low-income preschool-aged children whose families participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), UPF consumption patterns have been understudied.

Objectives

This study evaluated the association between SNAP and/or WIC enrollment and child UPF consumption and characterized the relationship between SNAP and WIC participation, food insecurity, and UPF intake among low-income, preschool-aged children.

Methods

We conducted a secondary cohort analysis of an RCT for childhood obesity prevention that enrolled 610 predominantly L

SUBMITTER: Drengler A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12581687 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature