The field of food is medicine (FIM) is experiencing a landmark year, with a 68% increase in published research studies and substantial progress in public policy, 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, reviewed 57 studies published between July 2025 and June 2026, noting that the number of randomized controlled trials quadrupled in just one year. This rapid expansion of evidence underscores the growing potential for healthcare-integrated nutrition interventions to improve health outcomes cost-effectively.
Government investment is also rising. Sixteen states have approved or are considering Medicaid waivers to support FIM programs, and six states are using Medicaid managed care in lieu of services authority to provide such services. Federal policymakers increased FIM funding by $24 million in the FY2026 spending bill, a more than fourfold increase since FY2024. State Medicaid evaluations found that FIM programs were associated with lower hospitalization and emergency department use, as well as reductions in healthcare costs.
The report highlights medically tailored meals (MTMs) and medically tailored groceries (MTGs) as showing particularly promising results. Growing evidence suggests these interventions can improve blood pressure, hemoglobin A1c, and other cardiometabolic risk factors, especially when paired with nutrition counseling or community health worker support. "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."
Personalized, patient-centered approaches are emerging as key success factors. The strongest outcomes were seen in programs that combined food support with services like nutrition counseling, diabetes self-management education, and care navigation. Participant preferences, cultural relevance, and convenience play critical roles in program engagement and effectiveness. "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," said Kevin Volpp, MD, PhD, scientific lead for the initiative.
The report concludes that the field is entering a more mature phase, shifting from feasibility to optimization, implementation, financing, and sustainability. The American Heart Association launched the Health Care by Food initiative in 2023 to integrate evidence-based nutrition interventions into healthcare systems. This news matters because it signals a paradigm shift in how chronic diseases are treated: food is increasingly recognized as medicine, backed by rigorous science and policy support. As research continues to identify best practices, healthcare leaders and payers can make more informed decisions, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving population health. For more information, visit heart.org or stroke.org.
