Why Current ‘Food Is Medicine’ Solutions Are Falling Short
Health Affairs May 12, 2023
In recent years, the age-old concept that food can augment medical practice has gained significant attention in health care reform. Prioritizing diet and lifestyle interventions as a first line of medical care has prompted an $8 billion national strategy to eradicate hunger, improve nutrition, and reduce diet-related disease. This collective effort serves as a call to action for health care professionals, community programs, food retailers, and technology companies to join forces and explore innovative solutions within our food and health care systems. Associated interventions within this movement, spanning disease prevention to treatment, have been described by the Food is Medicine (FIM) Pyramid, which is a framework of food-based nutrition programs and services in health care and population health.
Despite FIM’s...