Programs that treat food as part of medical care show promise in improving diet and food security, especially for people with or at high risk for chronic diseases. However, more research is needed to understand their full clinical benefits, according to a new scientific statement from the American Heart Association.
The review, published in the journal Circulation, looked at 14 randomized controlled trials conducted in the U.S. These trials tested programs like produce prescriptions, medically tailored groceries, and meals designed for patients with specific health conditions. While many showed improvements in diet quality and food security, results for clinical measures such as blood pressure, body weight, and blood sugar were mixed. Researchers say this may be due to short study periods and small sample sizes.
The statement highlights the urgent need to close research gaps. The Association’s Health Care by Food™ initiative, launched in September 2023, aims to build stronger evidence to support integrating healthy food into standard health care. This initiative began by funding 23 small-scale studies. These early projects will help guide larger real-world trials focused on long-term health outcomes and cost effectiveness.
Dr. Hilary K. Seligman, who chaired the advisory group behind the statement, said food-based programs have great potential to reduce the rising rates and costs of chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes. However, to fully understand their benefits, stronger and longer studies are needed. She noted that about 47 million Americans struggle with food insecurity, which puts them at higher risk for these diet-related illnesses. The cost of treating such conditions is estimated at over $50 billion each year in the U.S.
The statement urges researchers and health leaders to treat food programs as a key part of medical care. It calls for more standardized program designs, longer-term studies, and a step-by-step approach—starting with smaller trials and expanding to broader implementation.
Dr. Kevin Volpp, scientific lead for the Health Care by Food initiative, said the statement is a call to action for the health community. “We need to make food a fundamental part of how we treat chronic disease,” he said.
Dr. Mitchell S.V. Elkind, a co-author and the Association’s chief clinical science officer, said defining the right research questions is essential. “This statement lays the groundwork for creating evidence that can shape future health policies and reduce health care costs while improving health outcomes nationwide,” he said.
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