The food is medicine (FIM) field is rapidly maturing, according to a new report from the American Heart Association's Health Care by Food initiative. The annual report, Advances in the Food Is Medicine Field 2026, reviews 57 studies published between July 2025 and June 2026, a 68% increase from the previous year. Notably, the number of randomized controlled trials quadrupled, indicating a strengthening evidence base for healthcare-integrated nutrition interventions.
Government investment is also rising. Sixteen states have approved or are considering Medicaid waivers for FIM programs, and six states are using Medicaid managed care in lieu of services authority. Federal policymakers increased FIM funding by $24 million in the FY2026 spending bill, more than a fourfold increase since FY2024. State Medicaid evaluations found that FIM programs were associated with lower hospitalization, reduced emergency department use, and lower healthcare costs.
"Food is medicine science has moved beyond the question of whether these interventions are feasible and effective to how they can be most beneficial for individual patients and communities," said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. "Today's evidence is helping answer which interventions work best, for whom, under what circumstances, and how healthcare systems can implement them effectively to meaningfully improve health cost effectively."
Medically tailored meals and groceries showed particularly promising results, improving blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, and other cardiometabolic risk factors, especially when paired with nutrition counseling, community health worker support, or other complementary services. The report emphasizes that successful programs often go beyond providing food, incorporating services such as diabetes self-management education and motivational interviewing. Participant preferences, cultural relevance, and convenience are critical for engagement and effectiveness.
"The science of food is medicine is rapidly developing," said Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, scientific lead for the initiative. "The next phase of research will focus on matching the type and design of a food is medicine intervention to a patient's needs, preferences, and circumstances—an essential step in continuing to increase engagement and sustained impact."
The report concludes that the field is entering a more mature phase, shifting from feasibility to optimization, implementation, financing, and sustainability. This matters because it signals that food-based interventions are becoming a viable, evidence-based component of healthcare delivery. As the American Heart Association's Health Care by Food initiative continues to drive research, the findings will help healthcare leaders, policymakers, and payers make informed decisions about integrating nutrition into care. For more information on heart health, visit heart.org or stroke.org.
