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A groundbreaking national survey conducted by the Food is Medicine Institute at Tufts University’s Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy has shed new light on the public’s awareness and perceptions of food’s role in health. The survey, which gathered insights from over 3,000 U.S. adults, explores how Americans view the relationship between food and health and their opinions on Food is Medicine initiatives—programs that integrate food-based therapies into healthcare to prevent and treat chronic conditions.
Published in the Health Affairs journal on March 12, 2025, the study reveals that while many Americans acknowledge the importance of healthy eating for preventing diseases like obesity, high blood pressure, and type-2 diabetes, there are significant gaps in awareness of the Food is Medicine movement. Despite this, the survey shows strong public interest in participating in programs like produce prescriptions and medically tailored meals, especially among those facing food insecurity.
Key Findings from the Survey
Widespread Support for Healthy Eating
The survey results indicate that nearly 90% of participants agree that eating healthy foods is crucial for preventing common chronic conditions. This shows a clear recognition among the public of the connection between diet and health. However, while the importance of healthy eating is widely acknowledged, less than 30% of respondents were familiar with the concept of the Food is Medicine movement, which promotes the use of food as part of medical care.
Growing Interest in Food as Medicine Programs
Despite limited awareness of the movement, more than half of the respondents expressed a willingness to try a produce prescription, medically tailored groceries, or meal programs if offered by their healthcare providers. This interest was even more pronounced among individuals facing food insecurity, where nearly 70% indicated they would be open to such programs.
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The survey results highlight that a significant portion of the American public sees potential value in integrating food-based therapies into healthcare, with respondents seeing it as a way to manage or prevent conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
Government and Insurance Coverage Support
A strong majority, more than two-thirds of those surveyed, believe that government programs like Medicare and Medicaid should cover Food is Medicine initiatives. Additionally, about half of the participants think private insurance should also pay for such programs. These findings demonstrate robust public support for policy changes that would make food-based interventions more accessible through healthcare systems.
Barriers to Healthy Eating
Despite the public’s enthusiasm for food-based health interventions, the survey also highlights significant barriers to healthy eating that many Americans face. The most common barrier identified by 83% of participants was the high cost of healthy food, which prevents many from making nutritious choices. Over 50% of those surveyed also believed that healthcare should play a role in reimbursing or providing healthy food options to alleviate these financial constraints.
Other obstacles include:
- Family traditions that often center around unhealthy foods (79%).
- Lack of access to healthy food options in local stores (57%).
- Distance to stores or food pantries offering healthy options (56%).
- Uncertainty about what foods are healthy (48%).
These barriers reflect the complex challenges people face in trying to make healthy food choices, even when they have the desire to do so.
Addressing the Gaps in Healthcare
In addition to financial barriers, the survey also found that many healthcare providers lack the training or resources to address food and nutrition insecurity effectively. Over half of the respondents indicated that they would be more likely to make positive dietary changes if they had regular conversations about food habits with their healthcare providers. However, many doctors and nurses reported feeling uncomfortable discussing food-related topics or uncertain about where to refer patients for help with food insecurity.
To address these gaps, the researchers emphasize the need for increased nutrition education for healthcare providers, along with expanded research and program support from institutions like the National Institutes of Health and government programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.
A Path Forward: Advocating for Policy Change
The findings of this survey align with ongoing advocacy efforts to integrate food-based therapies into healthcare. Researchers from the Food is Medicine Institute are actively participating in the 2nd Annual Food is Medicine Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill, where they will meet with lawmakers to push for policies that strengthen the infrastructure for Food is Medicine programs.
These policy discussions focus on increasing nutrition training for healthcare providers, expanding research into the benefits of food-based healthcare, and enhancing program coverage through government health programs like Medicare and Medicaid. By addressing the barriers identified in the survey, there is potential to create a more holistic, cost-effective approach to healthcare that focuses on prevention through diet.
