Chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity continue to challenge families and healthcare systems across Delaware. But a growing movement—Food is Medicine (FIM)—offers a bold, evidence-based solution: integrate nutritious food and healthcare to improve outcomes and reduce costs. From February 2023 to February 2024, Westside Family Healthcare, in partnership with CRESP at the University of Delaware, implemented the Feeding Families program—a yearlong FIM pilot designed to improve health outcomes for individuals living with chronic conditions. Findings from the study are now published in the Delaware Journal of Public Health. 

 

What the Program Offered
Participants in the program received:

• Bi-weekly deliveries of nutrient-dense foods
• Personalized nutrition counseling
• Behavioral coaching and goal setting

The initiative targeted individuals diagnosed with or at risk of diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, providing both food access and the tools needed for long-term lifestyle changes.

 

Key Findings
Researchers from the University of Delaware evaluated the program’s impact on health and behavior. Results included:

• Reduced Body Mass Index (BMI): Participants experienced significant weight loss.
• Improved Dietary Habits: Intake of sodium, added sugars, and unhealthy fats decreased.
• Enhanced Nutrition Knowledge and Confidence: Participants gained skills to make healthier food choices.
• Modest Improvement in Food Security: Some participants reported better access to nutritious food.
• A1C Trends: While changes in blood sugar control (A1C) were not statistically significant, data showed a positive trend.

Why It Matters for Delaware
In 2020, chronic diseases accounted for 61% of all deaths in Delaware. Healthcare costs are also among the highest in the nation—averaging $12,899 per person annually. Programs like Feeding Families provide a new path forward, helping residents manage conditions through prevention and lifestyle support, rather than emergency intervention.

 

Policy Implications
The results of the Feeding Families program demonstrate that Food is Medicine works—particularly when implemented through trusted community health centers like Westside Family Healthcare. To scale and sustain impact, Delaware can:

• Establish Medicaid waivers to fund Food is Medicine programs
• Support local healthcare providers in delivering food-based interventions
• Incorporate FIM into statewide chronic disease prevention strategies