Health Affairs March 12, 2025
Abstract
Poor nutrition in the US causes more than 600,000 deaths and an estimated $1.1 trillion in health care spending and lost productivity annually, as well as profound health disparities. Food Is Medicine interventions, which incorporate nutrition-related services in medical care as part of a care plan to prevent or treat disease, can advance nutrition security, health, and equity. But little is known about public awareness and perceptions of these interventions. We conducted the first national survey on knowledge, perceptions, and experiences around Food Is Medicine during February–April 2023. Fewer than half of respondents said that they received clear food- and nutrition-related advice from their primary health care providers, but a majority expressed interest in participating in Food Is Medicine...