The concept of 'food is medicine' is gaining traction as a viable strategy to prevent, manage, and treat diet-related chronic diseases, according to a systematic review by the American Heart Association. This approach, which involves prescribing healthy foods within healthcare settings, has shown promise in enhancing diet quality and food security among patients with chronic conditions. However, the review also points out the need for more comprehensive research to evaluate the long-term clinical outcomes of such programs.
The review analyzed 14 randomized controlled trials focusing on food is medicine interventions like produce prescriptions, medically tailored groceries, and meals. While improvements in diet quality and food security were evident, the effects on clinical outcomes such as hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, and body mass index were inconsistent. This inconsistency may stem from small sample sizes and short study durations, underscoring the necessity for larger, more rigorous studies.
Dr. Hilary K. Seligman, a professor at the University of California, San Francisco, and chair of the scientific advisory writing group, emphasized the potential of food is medicine programs to address the growing burden of cardiometabolic diseases. With 47 million Americans facing food insecurity and the U.S. spending approximately $50.4 billion annually on treating diet-related diseases, the stakes are high. The American Heart Association's Health Care by Food™ initiative is a step towards filling the research gaps, funding 23 pilot trials to explore implementation science and behavioral economics in food is medicine programs.
The initiative aims to integrate nutritious food into healthcare delivery systematically, advocating for food is medicine programs to become a fundamental part of medical care. Dr. Kevin Volpp, scientific lead for the initiative, called for a collective effort from researchers, clinicians, and policymakers to invest in the science behind food is medicine. The ultimate goal is to establish food is medicine as a cornerstone of chronic disease prevention and treatment, thereby improving health outcomes and reducing healthcare costs.
The American Heart Association's scientific statement serves as a call to action, urging the standardization of food is medicine interventions and a stepwise research approach to ensure the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of these programs. By addressing the current gaps in research, the healthcare community can better understand how to design and implement food is medicine programs that significantly impact patient health and well-being.
