Food as Medicine Clinic: Early Results and Lessons Learned

Top Things to Know

Participants reported better dietary behaviors, particularly increased fruit and vegetable consumption.

Greater engagement with the FAM clinic was associated with more diverse vegetable intake.

Hospital-based food pantries are a viable intervention for improving dietary behaviors among food-insecure patients.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The study evaluated the impact of the Food as Medicine (FAM) clinic, a hospital-based food pantry, on dietary behaviors, health outcomes, and resource utilization among food-insecure patients with chronic conditions. Over a 12-month period, participants reported improved dietary behaviors, including increased fruit and vegetable intake. However, there were no statistically significant changes in clinical health measures or healthcare utilization. The study found a weak association between clinic visit frequency and dietary improvements.