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Nutritional Benefits From Federal Food AssistanceA Survey of Preschool Black Children From Low-Income Families in Memphis
Anthony G. Kafatos, MD, MPH;
Paul Zee, MD, PhD
Am J Dis Child. 1977;131(3):265-269.
Abstract
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• Approximately 4,000 preschool black children from low-income families in South Memphis participated for three years in a supplementary food program sponsored by the US Department of Agriculture. Part of this group received additional benefit from food stamps, day-care centers, and an infant-feeding program. We evaluated the effects of this participation in 250 children selected randomly from the enrollment list of the supplementary program. Each child was examined for height, weight, head circumference, and levels of hemoglobin, serum iron, and vitamins A and C. The data were then compared with those from a similar survey in the same area conducted three years before.
The results of this comparison indicate considerable improvements in height and weight and a reduction in the incidence of anemia and in the numbers of children with low plasma vitamin A levels.
In the absence of other recognizable intervening factors, we conclude that federal food assistance programs were primarily responsible for the observed nutritional improvements.
(Am J Dis Child 131:265-269, 1977)
Author Affiliations
From the Nutrition and Metabolism Service, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis.
Footnotes
The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and should not be construed as representing the opinion or policy of any agency of the US government.
Reprint requests to Nutrition and Metabolism Service, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, PO Box 318, Memphis, TN (Dr Zee).
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