KSPM
Search
- Page Path
- HOME > Search
Systematic Review
- Food is Medicine Initiative for Mitigating Food Insecurity in the United States
- Vidya Sharma, Ramaswamy Sharma
- J Prev Med Public Health. 2024;57(2):96-107. Published online March 8, 2024
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.3961/jpmph.23.505
- 25,652 View
- 546 Download
- 17 Web of Science
- 17 Crossref
-
Abstract
Summary
PDF - Objectives
While several food assistance programs in the United States tackle food insecurity, a relatively new program, “Food is Medicine,” (FIM) initiated in some cities not only addresses food insecurity but also targets chronic diseases by customizing the food delivered to its recipients. This review describes federal programs providing food assistance and evaluates the various sub-programs categorized under the FIM initiative.
Methods
A literature search was conducted from July 7, 2023 to November 9, 2023 using the search term, “Food is Medicine”, to identify articles indexed within three major electronic databases, PubMed, Medline, and Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL). Eligibility criteria for inclusion were: focus on any aspect of the FIM initiative within the United States, and publication as a peer-reviewed journal article in the English language. A total of 180 articles were retrieved; publications outside the eligibility criteria and duplicates were excluded for a final list of 72 publications. Supporting publications related to food insecurity, governmental and organizational websites related to FIM and other programs discussed in this review were also included.
Results
The FIM program includes medically tailored meals, medically tailored groceries, and produce prescriptions. Data suggest that it has lowered food insecurity, promoted better management of health, improved health outcomes, and has, therefore, lowered healthcare costs.
Conclusions
Overall, this umbrella program is having a positive impact on communities that have been offered and participate in this program. Limitations and challenges that need to be overcome to ensure its success are discussed. -
SummaryKey Message
In 2023, the United States Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), developed a "Food is Medicine" (FIM) initiative to address food insecurity and chronic diseases by providing healthy food options tailored to recipients' specific health needs. Programs categorized under the FIM initiative include Medically Tailored Meals, Medically Tailored Groceries, and Produce Prescriptions, which are described in this review. Overall, the program appears to have had a positive impact by improving health outcomes and enhancing the overall quality of life.Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by
- Healthy eating and active living to reverse diabetes (HEAL Diabetes-USA): a randomized controlled pilot study protocol to assess the feasibility of a weight loss intervention for diabetes remission
Alexandria M. Boykins, Asos Mahmood, Mona N. Wicks, Satya Surbhi, Santos A. Martinez, Frankie B. Stentz, James E. Bailey
Contemporary Clinical Trials Communications.2026; 49: 101597. CrossRef - Will a Programmatic Framework Integrating Food Is Medicine Achieve Value on Investment?
Lynn Fredericks, Olivia Thomas, Anthony Imamura, Julia MacLaren, Auden McClure, Joy Khalil, Jennifer Massa
Journal of General Internal Medicine.2025; 40(8): 1742. CrossRef - Seniors and Sustenance: A Scoping Review on Food Security in the Elderly
Nor Faiza Mohd. Tohit, Roselawati Mat Ya, Mainul Haque
Advances in Human Biology.2025; 15(1): 47. CrossRef - Development of a statewide network hub for screening, referral, and enrollment into food as medicine programs across Kentucky
Christa Mayfield, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua Bush, Ethan Cosson, Lauren Batey, Alison Gustafson
Frontiers in Public Health.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Effects of Food and Nutrition Insecurity on Global Health
Julie R. Ingelfinger, Clement D. Lee, Danielle Gallegos
New England Journal of Medicine.2025; 392(7): 686. CrossRef - Impact of a multicomponent food-as-medicine intervention on behavioral and mental health outcomes for patients with and without food insecurity
Marcela D. Radtke, June M. Tester, Lan Xiao, Wei-ting Chen, Benjamin O. Emmert-Aronson, Elizabeth A. Markle, Steven Chen, Lisa G. Rosas
Nutrition.2025; 134: 112734. CrossRef - From Kitchen to Clinic: Integrating Food as a Vital Component of Healthcare
Sanghee Han, Jianbo Xiao, Seok‐Geun Lee
Future Postharvest and Food.2025; 2(2): 139. CrossRef - A Culinary-Based Intensive Lifestyle Program for Patients with Obesity: The Teaching Kitchen Collaborative Curriculum (TKCC) Pilot Study
Auden C. McClure, Meredith Fenn, Stephanie R. Lebby, John N. Mecchella, Hannah K. Brilling, Sarah H. Finn, Kimberly A. Dovin, Elsa Chinburg, Jennifer Massa, Kate Janisch, David M. Eisenberg, Richard I. Rothstein
Nutrients.2025; 17(11): 1854. CrossRef - Interaction Effect of Food Insecurity and Stroke on the Risk of All-Cause Mortality: NHANES 2015–2018
Sri Banerjee, W. Sumner Davis, Jagdish Khubchandani, Patrick Dunn
Foods.2025; 14(13): 2281. CrossRef - Fresh Food Rx: Evaluating the Impact of a Produce Prescription Program on Engagement and Well-being Using the RE-AIM Framework
Rachel Zimmer, Ashley Strahley, Diane Shenberger, Deepak Palakshappa, Lindsey Abdelfattah, Sarah A. Birken, Roger Vilardaga, Charlotte Crotts, Amresh Hanchate
Journal of General Internal Medicine.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Real-world implementation of a clinic-community Food is Medicine intervention for patients with type 2 diabetes
Marcela D. Radtke, Lan Xiao, Wei-ting Chen, Michelle Castro, Peter Mojarras, Bill Gibbs, Monica Parra, Lisa G. Rosas
Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.2025; 226: 112376. CrossRef - The Influence of Motivation and Memorable Message Receipt on the Exercise and Eating Habits of Black Women
Natasha R. Brown, Rubena Deubry, Rakchhya Uprety, Faith Ogini, Rashidat Elesho, Katrina Sookraj, La’Marcus T. Wingate
Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Exploring Qualitative Insights Into Nutrition Incentive and Produce Prescription Programs: A Scoping Review
Courtney A Parks, Sarah A Stotz, Ashleigh Floyd Clark, Hollyanne E Fricke, Carmen Byker Shanks, Kristen DeSanto, Amy L Yaroch
Nutrition Reviews.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - Risk of food insecurity and its association with social determinants of health among hospitalized patients in Lebanon
Lamis Jomaa, Joelle Abi Kharma, Nahla Hwalla, Emmanuel Kabengele Mpinga, Ngianga-Bakwin Kandala, Krystel Ouaijan
BMC Nutrition.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - An Examination of Strategies to Improve Access to Medical Nutrition Therapy among Cancer Patients in the United States: A Narrative Review and a Call to Action
Bryanna Gloss, Trishnee Bhurosy
Current Nutrition Reports.2025;[Epub] CrossRef - The evolution of animal-based dietary structure has contributed to the increase of healthcare expenditures in China
Yuanyuan Zhu, Yan Zhang, Xiaohua Zhu, Yuan Luo, ZhenFa Tu
Humanities and Social Sciences Communications.2024;[Epub] CrossRef - Implementing Food Security Screening in all Pregnant Women: Call to Action
Jennifer Woo, Divya Parmar, Valeria Millinga, Tracie Kirkland
Journal of Midwifery & Women's Health.2024; 69(6): 826. CrossRef
First
Prev
