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May 15, 2025 – A groundbreaking long-term study from Northwestern Medicine has revealed that participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during early childhood can significantly reduce the risk of heart disease later in life for children facing food insecurity.
Published in JAMA Cardiology, the study highlights the critical role of SNAP-the largest federal nutrition assistance program in the United States, serving 41 million residents-in safeguarding the long-term cardiovascular health of children from low-income families.
Food Insecurity’s Lasting Impact
Food insecurity, defined as the lack of consistent access to enough nutritious food, affects one in eight U.S. households annually. Previous research has linked food insecurity to poor health outcomes in adults, but this new study is among the first to track the effects from early childhood into adulthood.
Researchers analyzed data from the Future of Families and Child Wellbeing Study, which has followed over 1,000 children born between 1998 and 2000 in 20 U.S. cities. They examined food insecurity and SNAP participation when the children were ages 3-5, then assessed their cardiovascular health at age 22 using the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” metrics, including BMI, blood pressure, cholesterol, physical activity, diet, and sleep.
SNAP’s Protective Effect
The study found that 39% of the children experienced food insecurity in early childhood. Among these, those who did not receive SNAP had significantly worse cardiovascular health at age 22-particularly higher BMI and lower physical activity scores. In contrast, children who participated in SNAP had heart health outcomes similar to their food-secure peers, effectively neutralizing the long-term risks associated with early food insecurity.
“SNAP may be one of our most powerful tools to protect food-insecure children’s long-term heart health,” said first author Emily Lam, a medical student at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “Our findings reinforce the importance of SNAP, especially as lawmakers consider potential funding cuts.”
Implications for Policy and Healthcare
The results come at a crucial time, as debates over SNAP funding continue in Congress. Senior author Dr. Nilay Shah, assistant professor of cardiology at Feinberg, emphasized the broader implications: “Better understanding the link between food insecurity in childhood and long-term heart health helps reinforce the importance of nutrition assistance policies.”
The study also underscores the need for healthcare providers to screen for food insecurity and connect families to resources like SNAP.
Looking Ahead
Preliminary evidence from the study suggests that girls facing food insecurity may be at greater risk for cardiovascular issues than boys, though further research is needed. The authors also recommend exploring additional interventions to promote food access, such as community gardens, school lunch programs, and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Citation
Lam, E.L., et al. (2025). Early Childhood Food Insecurity and Cardiovascular Health in Young Adulthood. JAMA Cardiology. DOI: 10.1001/jamacardio.2025.1062
Disclaimer:
This article is for informational purposes only and is based on a peer-reviewed study published in JAMA Cardiology. It does not constitute medical advice. For personal health concerns, please consult a qualified healthcare professional. For more information, visit the original article at Medical Xpress.
