Eating disorder: as jobs vanish and incomes shrink, more people turn to government to keep the calories coming.

• Position: Statewide - Statistical table - Brief article

FEEDING FRENZY Food-and-nutrition benefits paid statewide rose 36% during the fiscal year that ended in June, topping $1.4 billion. Payouts grew fastest in Dare and some other small counties. Benefits (millions) Change Dare $2.4 63.8% Avery 2.1 63.6 Macon 5.0 63.5 Clay 2.0 62.7 Cherokee 3.9 58.8 LEAN TIMES Benefits paid per capita statewide rose by a third to $153.95 in the latest fiscal year. Vance County received the most; Watauga, the least. Benefits per capita Vance $358.18 Edgecombe 340.22 Scotland 321.28 Halifax 319.17 Robeson 300.06 [GRAPHIC...