Integration of food as medicine in healthcare can drive health and economic benefits, report finds

A report by the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University highlights the potential health and economic benefits of integrating food-based nutrition interventions, known as Food is Medicine (FIM) efforts, into the healthcare system. The study, supported by the Rockefeller Foundation, suggests that incorporating targeted food and nutrition strategies at a national level can improve health outcomes, reduce hospitalisations, and cut healthcare costs. The report shows that implementing Medically Tailored Meals (MTMs) for patients with diet-related conditions and limited ability for daily activities could lead to approximately 1.6 million fewer hospitalisations and a net savings of $13.6 billion in the first year. Producing prescription programmes for patients with diabetes and food insecurity could avert 292,000 cardiovascular events and save $0.05 billion annually. The study emphasises the importance of food interventions in addressing the U.S.’s high healthcare spending and the health impacts of poor diets.

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