Research
Adherence
A comprehensive incentive/disincentive program (SNAP-plus) that subsidizes multiple healthy food groups (F&V, nuts, whole grains, fish, plant-based oils) and disincentivizes unhealthy groups (SSBs, junk food, processed meats) yields the largest health gains and net cost savings among the tested interventions.
Support the 'SNAP-plus' model, which uses a broad basket of incentives for healthy foods and disincentives for unhealthy ones. This approach is modeled to save the most money and prevent the most heart disease, making it the most attractive option for policy makers.
ModerateSupportsMEDIUM confidence
For SNAP-plus, corresponding gains were approximately 940,000 CVD events prevented, 2.47 million QALYs gained, and $41.93 billion saved.
Why this rating
Based on microsimulation modeling.
Source
Cost-effectiveness of financial incentives and disincentives for improving food purchases and health through the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A microsimulation study
Dariush Mozaffarian et al. · PLoS Medicine · 2018
DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002661
unknown · n=14500000Cited 142×
Read the paper DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10
More from this paper
- Implementing a 30% financial incentive for fruits and vegetables (F&V) within the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increases F&V intake and prevents cardiovascular disease events, resulting in net healthcare cost savings over a lifetime.Moderate
- Restricting the purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) using SNAP funds, when combined with fruit and vegetable incentives, significantly amplifies cardiovascular disease prevention and healthcare cost savings compared to fruit and vegetable incentives alone.Moderate
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- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →