In the peer-reviewed study, University of California researchers measured the economic impact of nutrition education provided by the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), a federally funded USDA program administered by the University of California statewide to low-income families.

Using cost-benefit analysis methodology developed by Virginia Cooperative Extension, the authors compared food-related behavioral changes among California EFNEP participants to the predicted future incidence of eight nutrition-related diseases and conditions, including heart disease, obesity, stroke, osteoporosis and type 2 diabetes. The study analyzed pre- and post-tests from over 9,500 participants to estimate long-term changes in food consumption.

During this study, EFNEP served over 13,000 low-income California families, in both urban and rural locations. Participants received 6 to 8 hours of education each week, for 4 to 6 weeks. The lessons emphasized the increased consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreased fat intake, and improved skills in food safety, shopping and preparation, with the long-range goals of improved health and reduced risk of disease. At the time of the study, the California EFNEP annual budget was approximately $3.6 million.

Lead author Amy Block Joy, specialist in the UC Davis Department of Nutrition, emphasized that the study used the most conservative economic assumptions possible in order to arrive at the conclusion that every dollar spent on nutrition education in California saves at least $3.67 in future medical costs.

“Nutrition education appears to be a good economic investment for California and the country, especially with an underserved population that is likely to have poorer eating habits and higher risk for numerous chronic diseases and conditions,” Joy says. Joy serves as director of the California Food Stamp Nutrition Education (FSNE) program, another nutrition program that uses program delivery and evaluation methods similar to EFNEP and serves more than 60,000 food stamp-eligible recipients each year. In California, the FSNE program receives approximately $12 million annually.

California Agriculture is the University of California’s peer-reviewed journal of research in agricultural, human and natural resources. For a free subscription, go to: http://CaliforniaAgriculture.ucop.edu, call (510) 987-0044 or write to calag@ucop.edu. For a printed copy of California Agriculture, media should e-mail janet.byron@ucop.edu or call (510) 987-0668.