SENATE MEMORIAL 123

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2015

INTRODUCED BY

Cliff R. Pirtle

A MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH TO STUDY THE CORRELATION BETWEEN OBESITY RATES OF PARTICIPANTS IN THE FEDERAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM AND PARTICIPANTS ENROLLED IN THE FEDERAL SPECIAL SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR WOMEN, INFANTS AND CHILDREN.

     WHEREAS, as of 2013, the adult obesity rate in New Mexico was twenty-six and four-tenths percent, according to the "State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America Report"; and

     WHEREAS, the current obesity rate for two- to four-year- olds from New Mexico low-income families is eleven and three-tenths percent as reported by the federal centers for disease control and prevention in August 2013; and

     WHEREAS, obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type two diabetes and certain types of cancer; and

     WHEREAS, in addition to serious health consequences, the Journal of Health Economics estimated annual medical costs of obesity-related illnesses are more than one hundred ninety billion dollars ($190,000,000,000), or nearly twenty-one percent of annual medical spending in the United States; and

     WHEREAS, consumption of certain foods and sugar-sweetened beverages has been linked to increased obesity and type two diabetes; and

     WHEREAS, the supplemental nutrition assistance program, formerly the food stamp program and more commonly known as "SNAP", is a federal program that provides food purchasing assistance to low- or no-income people and can be used to purchase food at grocery stores, convenience stores and some farmers' markets and co-op food programs; and

     WHEREAS, the federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children, more commonly known as "WIC", provides federal grants to states for supplemental foods and other services to low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk; and

     WHEREAS, the allowable types of foods and beverages that can be purchased differ between the supplemental nutrition assistance program and the women, infants and children nutrition assistance program; and

     WHEREAS, it would be beneficial to study the nutritional value of the foods and beverages offered by the two programs and the obesity rates of participants in the two programs;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the department of health be requested to study the correlation between obesity rates of participants in the federal supplemental nutrition assistance program and participants in the federal special supplemental nutrition program for women, infants and children and to present the findings to the appropriate interim committee; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the secretary of health.

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