Beyond the Prescription Pad: How Human Connection Is Unlocking the Power of 'Food is Medicine'

NEW ORLEANS, LA – June 08, 2026 – The fight against chronic disease is increasingly moving from the sterile environment of the clinic to the community kitchen, and new data reveals a critical ingredient for success: the human touch. Research unveiled at the American Diabetes Association's 86th Scientific Sessions shows that while providing healthy food to patients is effective, pairing it with dedicated support from community health workers creates a transformative impact on health and well-being.

A new study focused on Abbott's Healthy Food Rx program provides compelling evidence for this synergistic approach. The findings suggest a powerful blueprint for how public health policy, corporate investment, and grassroots action can converge to tackle one of our most pressing health challenges.

A Recipe for Remarkable Results

The six-month study, a collaboration between Abbott, the Public Health Institute Center for Wellness and Nutrition (PHI CWN), and local Stockton, California organizations, tracked 284 adults with type 2 diabetes. Participants received bi-weekly boxes of healthy food, recipes, and access to cooking classes. But crucially, they were also paired with community health workers for personalized coaching. The results were nothing short of remarkable.

Participants doubled their daily vegetable intake and nearly doubled their fruit consumption. Physical activity increased significantly, with weekly exercise sessions jumping from 2.8 to 4.4. Critically for diabetes management, adherence to glucose monitoring more than doubled, rising from 28% to 62%, and the rate of participants taking their medication as prescribed soared from 57% to an astounding 94%.

Beyond the clinical metrics, the impact on participants' quality of life was profound. The percentage reporting good to excellent physical health more than tripled, from 21% to 77%. The improvement in mental health was equally stark, more than doubling from 34% to 88%. This demonstrates that the program not only manages disease but actively helps people feel better.

"Abbott's Healthy Food Rx program shows what's possible when people receive not only healthy food, but also encouragement and coaching from someone they trust who understands their daily realities," said Melissa Brotz, senior vice president at Abbott and president of the Abbott Fund. "Food is Medicine is most powerful when it combines healthy food access with the knowledge, confidence and support people need to manage their health."

The 'Secret Ingredient': Community Health Workers

While the healthy food boxes provided the nutritional foundation, the study's data strongly suggests that the community health workers (CHWs) were the catalysts for change. These workers, provided by the Asian Pacific Self-Development and Residential Association (APSARA), offered coaching in participants' preferred languages, helping them set goals, stay motivated, and navigate the complexities of managing a chronic illness.

"Many people with diabetes face real-world challenges in getting the care and support they need to live healthy," noted David Daraseng, project coordinator at APSARA. "Community health workers can play a powerful role... because they bring trust, understanding and consistency to the work."

This isn't just a feel-good story; it’s a strategic deployment of a critical healthcare asset. CHWs act as a bridge between the healthcare system and the communities it serves. Often sharing the same cultural background, language, or lived experiences as their clients, they can break down barriers that clinicians cannot. They are the essential human infrastructure that makes interventions like 'Food is Medicine' work in the real world, translating nutritional science into sustainable daily habits.

From National Policy to a Stockton Food Bank

The Abbott study lands amidst a groundswell of national interest in the 'Food is Medicine' movement. Following the 2022 White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, federal and state governments are increasingly looking to integrate food-based interventions into healthcare. Legislation like the proposed Accountable Produce as Medicine Act of 2026 aims to formalize these programs within Medicare and Medicaid, recognizing their potential to generate an estimated $13.6 billion in annual healthcare savings.

Yet the program's success is also a story of hyper-local execution. The initiative was deployed in Stockton, California, a community where nearly 60% of residents live with diabetes or pre-diabetes and significant portions of the city are considered 'food deserts'. The partnership with the Emergency Food Bank of Stockton/San Joaquin (EFB) to deliver the food boxes was essential. The EFB, the largest direct food provider in its county, is on the front lines of a hunger crisis, serving 30% more families now than in 2021.

This highlights a critical tension: while innovative programs are proving their worth, the foundational community organizations that make them possible are under immense strain. Recent federal budget cuts have impacted food banks like EFB, threatening the very supply chains these health initiatives depend on. The success in Stockton underscores the need for policy that not only funds pilot programs but also shores up the community infrastructure that sustains them.

The Business of Better Health: A Blueprint for Impact

Abbott's role, through its philanthropic Abbott Fund, represents a sophisticated evolution of corporate social responsibility. This is not simply writing a check; it is a strategic, multi-year investment in building evidence for a new model of care. By funding rigorous research and partnering with public health experts and community organizations, Abbott is helping to build the business case for widespread adoption of 'Food is Medicine' programs.

This model—a public-private partnership that leverages corporate resources, academic rigor, and grassroots trust—offers a powerful blueprint for addressing complex public health issues. The Healthy Food Rx program demonstrates that investing in food and human connection can yield a remarkable return in improved health, enhanced quality of life, and a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system. As policymakers and healthcare systems look for scalable solutions to the chronic disease epidemic, the lessons from Stockton provide a clear and hopeful path forward.