Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Generates Economic Value Through Body Mass Index Improvement: A Cost-Benefit Analysis

Authors

Andrea Leschewski, South Dakota State UniversityFollow
M. Catalina Aragon, Washington State University ExtensionFollow
Dave Weatherspoon, Michigan State UniversityFollow
Karen Barale, Washington State University ExtensionFollow
Garry Auld, Colorado State UniversityFollow
Richard Acquah-Sarpong, Oregon State UniversityFollow
Susan S. Baker, Colorado State UniversityFollow

Volume

61

Issue

4

DOI

10.34068/joe.61.04.17

Abstract

Prior economic evaluations of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) perform cost-benefit analyses (CBA) reliant on self-reported behavioral data and unvalidated criteria for disease prevention. This study aims to conduct a CBA of Colorado and Washington EFNEP using an objective biomarker, Body Mass Index, to monetize program benefits. A longitudinal study of a convenience sample of EFNEP participants was conducted utilizing a single-group pretest-posttest design. Results indicate Colorado and Washington EFNEP generates $9.23 of benefits per $1.00 of costs and demonstrate the feasibility and value of using biomarkers in economic evaluations of nutrition education interventions delivered through Extension.

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Recommended Citation

Leschewski, A., Aragon, M. C., Weatherspoon, D., Barale, K., Auld, G., Acquah-Sarpong, R., & Baker, S. S. (2024). Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Generates Economic Value Through Body Mass Index Improvement: A Cost-Benefit Analysis. The Journal of Extension, 61(4), Article 17. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.61.04.17