Research literature documents a positive and almost linear correlation between income and health.
Those with income at or below the federal poverty level have significantly greater burdens of illness and negative disease outcomes. A diet that promotes good health is also important for older citizens who are much more likely to develop diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and heart diseases. The percentage of older adults is rapidly increasing in many rural Oklahoma counties. The lack of nutrition education programs in many rural counties compounds these nutrition problems. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service has leveraged state OCES funding as match to receive more than 1.5 million dollars in federal food stamp nutrition education program funds in the Federal FY 2000.