Benefits of the WIC Nutrition Program

There are many benefits to families participating in the WIC program. WIC improves the health status of nutritionally at-risk women, infants, and children. Furthermore, many studies have shown that WIC is also cost effective.

Pregnant Women on WIC:

  • Have increased access to healthy foods.
  • Have a better diet.
  • Get prenatal care earlier in pregnancy.
  • Are more likely to have healthy weight gain during pregnancy.
  • Have fewer premature babies.
  • Have fewer low and very low birth-weight babies.
  • Experience fewer fetal and infant deaths.

Infants and Children On WIC:

  • Have increased access to healthy foods.
  • Have a better diet.
  • Are more likely to have normal childhood growth.
  • Have lower rates for childhood anemia.
  • Have better immunization rates.
  • Have better access to pediatric health care.
  • Have increased vocabulary and memory scores.

Cost Benefits of WIC:

  • Every WIC dollar used to serve pregnant women saves $1.92 to $4.21 in Medicaid costs.
  • WIC reduces the rate of very low birth-weight babies by 44%. It costs between $30,000 and $70,000 to raise a low or very low birth-weight baby to normal weight.