Access to healthy, nutritious food has shown to improve physical and mental health for neighbors experiencing food insecurity, according to a report on Feeding America’s “Food as Medicine” initiative, funded by a $14.1 million grant from Elevance Health Foundation. The report shares key activities and learnings from the second year of the “Food as Medicine” program.
The three-year initiative – in partnership with Elevance Health Foundation, and with the Center for Nutrition and Health Impact as the lead evaluation partner – is one of the nation’s longest running and furthest reaching community-based ‘food is medicine’ evaluations. It has demonstrated that the partnership between food banks, health care professionals and neighbors facing hunger can positively impact communities across America by addressing the connection between food insecurity and health.
Feeding America's "Food as Medicine" initiative follows a screen - refer - nourish model where food banks across the country partnered with over 30 health care providers who screened more than 860,000 patients for food insecurity during a health care visit. Over 100,000 of those patients were found to be food insecure and were provided with a nutritious food referral that they redeemed at a participating food bank.
“Neighbors facing hunger tell us they want to eat healthier, but deep-rooted barriers have kept them from accessing nutritious food,” said Melanie Hall MS, RD, Feeding America chief research and innovation officer. “People who are food insecure tend to have annual health care costs that are almost $2,000 higher than people who are food secure. This is due to higher rates of hospitalization, use of emergency rooms and increased risk of chronic disease. To help combat this public health crisis, Feeding America’s Food as Medicine program offers a bold, new approach to collaborating with health care providers, insurers, policy makers and community partners to make nutritious food more accessible.”
Participant characteristics:
- Before starting the program, nearly 70% of participants reported at least one chronic health condition, and 1 in 4 experienced a recent hospitalization.
- Most participants said the program supported their health, including helping to eat more fruits and vegetables, trying new foods and better managing chronic disease.
- At the start of the program, many participants were not enrolled in federal nutrition programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), which provide vital food assistance and nutrition support to low-income individuals and families. Despite strong links between these programs and improved health, only 38% of participants reported receiving SNAP and just 14% received WIC before starting the program—highlighting gaps in access, eligibility or awareness. Since the start of the program, over 20,000 neighbors have been referred to SNAP.
“The second year of the “Food as Medicine” program has resulted in measurable health improvements like lower A1C and improved emotional wellbeing,” said Hall. “By meeting people where they are, this program builds solutions that are rooted in dignity, accessibility and impact.”
"As part of this program, Elevance Health Foundation and Feeding America are collaborating on a first-of-its-kind nationwide study integrating neighbors’ survey answers, interview responses, health records, and insurance claims data to assess the impact of the ‘Food as Medicine’ partnerships between food banks and health care providers. This comprehensive research approach will provide actionable knowledge about how these partnerships—and 'Food is Medicine' programs more generally—positively impact neighbors’ health, quality of life, diet quality, food security, health care utilization, and more," said Chris Long, PhD principal research scientist, Center for Nutrition & Health Impact.
Health care providers, policymakers and community leaders are increasingly recognizing food’s critical role in health outcomes with increased clinical interventions, public health initiatives and community-based programs. The 21 Feeding America network food banks in the program partnered with health care providers to scale an array of interventions including onsite food pantries, mobile food distributions, onsite emergency food packages, food prescription voucher programs and home delivery services. Many food banks offer nutrition education and serve as hubs where people can access nutritious food and connect with additional resources like housing and workforce training, enhancing overall well-being.
“Elevance Health Foundation has long advocated for better access to nutritious foods in our communities,” said Shantanu Agrawal, MD, Chief Health Officer of Elevance Health. “It's crucial to find meaningful food as medicine solutions and support efforts such as Feeding America's ‘Food as Medicine’ initiative to improve the quality and availability of healthy foods. The Foundation values our community partnership and remains dedicated to programs that improve health outcomes for individuals with diet-related conditions and work to make nutritious foods more accessible by offering affordable, healthy options for those experiencing food insecurity.”
“The impact on health outcomes has been particularly notable. Patients participating in our ‘Food as Medicine’ programs have experienced measurable improvements, including an average 1.5% reduction in A1C levels, indicating better diabetes management. Additionally, participants have reported increased consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains, highlighting the program’s effectiveness in fostering long-term healthy eating habits,” reports the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York.
Learn more about the “Food as Medicine” initiative in Feeding America’s report.
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About Feeding America
Feeding America is committed to an America where no one is hungry. We support tens of millions of people who experience food insecurity to get the food and resources they say they need to thrive as part of a nationwide network of food banks, statewide food bank associations, food pantries and meal programs. We also invest in innovative solutions to increase equitable access to nutritious food, advocate for legislation that improves food security and work to address factors that impact food security, such as health, cost of living and employment. We partner with people experiencing food insecurity, policymakers, organizations, and supporters, united with them in a movement to end hunger. Visit FeedingAmerica.org to learn more.