- Study by Public Health Institute shows people with diabetes
were able to lower A1C levels, better self-manage diabetes, and
improve overall diet and food security at 12 months
- Abbott's Healthy Food Rx program provides home-delivered
healthy food boxes to help address diabetes; part of broader
collaboration to address social barriers and expand access to
health in Stockton, Calif.
ABBOTT PARK, Ill. and OAKLAND, Calif., Nov. 8, 2023
/PRNewswire/ -- A study of Abbott's (NYSE: ABT) Healthy Food Rx, a
food as medicine program that provides home-delivered medical
prescriptions of healthy food to help address diabetes, showed
clinically important benefits for people with diabetes. The
real-world study, which was conducted by the Public Health
Institute's Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN) in an
active community clinic over a 12-month period, found that Healthy
Food Rx participants had lower A1C levels, improved diabetes
self-management, and improved overall diet quality and food
security.
In 2021, Abbott and its foundation the Abbott Fund launched the
Healthy Food Rx program in Stockton,
Calif., where 60% of the population has diabetes or
prediabetes. The program, part of the company's broader Future
Well™ Communities initiative, brings together
Stockton-based organizations to
help individuals living with diabetes by delivering free
recipe-based food boxes to approximately 450 participants' homes
and providing hands-on education about managing their diabetes
through nutrition. PHI CWN's study showed the following results
after 12 months:
- Decreased A1C levels: A1C is a test that reflects
average glucose levels for the past three months. Higher A1C
levels, a sign of uncontrolled diabetes, lead to higher risk for
diabetes-related complications including cardiovascular disease,
blindness or limb amputation. During this study, participants with
uncontrolled diabetes (baseline A1C values greater than 7.0%) saw
their A1C levels decrease by 0.80%, on average (from 9.73% to
8.93%, p = 0.003). This average decrease for the group exceeds the
widely accepted 0.5% benchmark that is considered a clinically
significant change and is associated with improved health outcomes
in people with diabetes.
- Improved diabetes self-management: The number of
participants who rated their ability to self-manage their diabetes
grew significantly through the program (p < 0.05): 88% of
participants reported they follow their meal plan (compared to 58%
before enrolling in Healthy Food Rx); 78% reported more physical
activity (compared to 61%); and 43% now talk with mentors and
friends about diabetes management and healthy living (compared to
12%), all consistent with empowerment of people living with
diabetes.
- Improved diet quality: Participants' average fruit
and vegetable consumption increased significantly. Fruit intake
increased by 0.28 times per day, which equals almost two more
servings per week; and vegetable intake increased by 0.14 times per
day, which equals one more serving per week (p = 0.001 and 0.028,
respectively).
- Improved food security: At the start of the
program, 34% of participants were food secure. During the program,
food security increased significantly to 44% (p = 0.018).
Healthy Food Rx is one of the largest food as medicine programs
for people with diabetes in the country, having reached more than
450 participants to date. Based on initial results, Abbott and the
Abbott Fund are working with partners to expand the program,
targeting an additional 1,000 people by the end of the year.
"The future of Stockton depends
on the health and well-being of the people who live here, and
that's why it's so exciting to see the Healthy Food Rx program
improving the health of our residents with diabetes," said
Kevin Lincoln, Mayor of Stockton. "Change happens through genuine
partnership. I'd like to congratulate and thank our local
Stockton organizations, Community
Medical Centers and the Emergency Food Bank, along with Abbott and
PHI, for demonstrating the importance of listening, collaboration
and building new solutions to tackle the challenges of
diabetes."
"Healthy Food Rx is a strong example of how working side-by-side
with communities can break down barriers and help people live
healthier," said Melissa Brotz,
president of the Abbott Fund and vice president of Global Marketing
and External Affairs at Abbott. "We know that Healthy Food Rx is
making a meaningful difference for people with diabetes, and we're
also reaching their families with nutritious meals and discussions
on healthy eating. We look forward to sharing our learnings and
growing our impact."
"Chronic conditions like diabetes are growing, especially in
low-income Black, Latino and Native American communities where it
can be difficult to access foods that are affordable, healthy and
culturally familiar," said PHI President and CEO Dr. Mary Pittman, DrPH. "The positive results of
Healthy Food Rx show that we can build systemic supports that help
people eat well, live heathier lives and thrive."
How Healthy Food Rx Works
The Healthy Food Rx program
is part of Abbott's Future Well Communities, which is a
multi-year initiative aimed to advance health access and equity by
removing the barriers that prevent people with diabetes from living
healthy lives.
Abbott partnered with PHI CWN to design and implement Healthy
Food Rx with Stockton-based
organizations, with funding support from Abbott's foundation
the Abbott Fund. Community Medical Centers (CMC), a local federally
qualified health center in Stockton, identified potential Healthy Food Rx
participants. Program participants received food boxes from the
Emergency Food Bank Stockton/San
Joaquin (EFB), delivered directly to their home every other
week for one year. The boxes included ingredients for a
family-sized healthy meal with vegetables and fruits, as well as
pantry staples such as beans, rice and nuts. The box also contained
a recipe card and link to an optional online cooking class with
EFB, which provided additional guidance and diabetes education.
"Nutritious food is critical for managing diabetes and staying
healthy," said Dr. Leonard Hansen,
Ph.D., CEO, Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin
County. "Healthy Food Rx demonstrates how delivering healthy
food and educational support can help improve health and build food
security for the people who need it most."
"This recent study shows the powerful impact Healthy Food Rx has
had on community health and well-being," said Christine Noguera, CEO, Community Medical
Centers. "Community health centers like CMC have always worked with
patients to manage chronic conditions like diabetes. Abbott's
initiative combining regular access to healthy food with primary
care and health education has made all the difference for people
living with diabetes. We were proud to participate in this
important research."
All participants were invited to participate in the research
study coordinated by PHI CWN, which included surveys at enrollment
and at six and 12 months, in addition to capturing lab-verified
glycated hemoglobin A1C values from medical records.
Complete study results can be found on the PHI website.
About the Public Health Institute and the Center for Wellness
and Nutrition
The Public Health Institute, an independent
nonprofit organization, advances wellbeing and health equity with
communities around the world. PHI develops research, leadership and
partnerships to build strong public health policy, programs,
systems and practices. For more information,
visit www.phi.org. The Center for Wellness and Nutrition
(CWN), a program of the Public Health Institute, is a national
leader in developing campaigns, programs and partnerships to
promote wellness and equitable practices in the most vulnerable
communities in California and
across the country.
About Abbott and the Abbott Fund
Abbott is
a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all
stages of life. Our portfolio of life-changing technologies spans
the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in
diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic
medicines. Our 115,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160
countries. Connect with us at www.abbott.com, on LinkedIn
at www.linkedin.com/company/abbott-, on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/Abbott and on Twitter @AbbottNews.
The Abbott Fund is a philanthropic foundation
established by Abbott in 1951. The Abbott Fund's mission is to
create healthier global communities by investing in creative ideas
that promote science, expand access to healthcare and strengthen
communities worldwide. For more information on the Abbott Fund,
visit www.abbottfund.org.
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SOURCE Abbott