Food Is Medicine Programs Show Promise in Improving Health Outcomes, More Research Needed

The American Heart Association's recent systematic review of Food Is Medicine (FIM) programs reveals their potential to enhance diet quality and food security for individuals with or at high risk for chronic diseases. However, the review also identifies a need for more comprehensive research to fully understand the clinical outcomes of these interventions.

FIM programs, which include initiatives like produce prescriptions and medically tailored meals, aim to integrate healthy food into healthcare settings to prevent and manage diet-related chronic diseases. The review of 14 randomized controlled trials found that while these programs significantly improved diet quality and food security, their effects on clinical outcomes such as hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and body mass index were inconsistent. This inconsistency may stem from limitations in study design, including small sample sizes and short durations.

The findings underscore the importance of the American Heart Association's Health Care by Food initiative, which seeks to address these research gaps through funding 23 pilot trials. These trials will explore implementation science and behavioral economics to enhance program engagement and effectiveness. The initiative represents a critical step toward integrating FIM programs into standard medical care, potentially transforming the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases.

With 47 million Americans facing food insecurity and the U.S. spending approximately $50.4 billion annually on treating diet-related cardiometabolic diseases, the need for effective FIM programs is clear. The American Heart Association's call to action for more rigorous research and standardized interventions highlights the potential of FIM programs to not only improve individual health outcomes but also reduce healthcare costs on a national scale.