Transforming Health: How Payer Nutrition Programs Leverage Food as Medicine for Member Wellbeing

As healthcare embraces the idea of food as medicine, there’s a growing need for payers to support dietary care management programs focused on nutrition.

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, stroke, and diabetes are responsible for nearly three-quarters of deaths worldwide. A healthy diet can help protect against many of these illnesses, making food an essential tool for disease prevention. Proper dietary plans can significantly improve health outcomes.

The food as medicine movement is gaining traction in healthcare. Concepts like food prescriptions, food pharmacies, and medically tailored meals are becoming increasingly popular with both patients and healthcare providers. The Food Is Medicine Center for Excellence is one example that highlights this trend.

Payers have a unique opportunity to make a real impact. They can enhance health outcomes by integrating nutrition into care management programs, which consider each member’s overall well-being and the social factors influencing health.

Chronic diseases, which affect about six in ten people in the U.S., can greatly benefit from targeted food interventions. These conditions account for a significant portion of the nation’s $4.1 trillion healthcare spending. Proactively treating food as medicine can help prevent diseases and reduce costs, especially for members at high risk due to multiple chronic conditions. Many conditions that respond well to dietary changes, like diabetes and heart disease, are preventable or even reversible.

Care management programs can actively engage members in their health journeys, encouraging education and participation in their own care. Those with conditions that improve with dietary changes, or who take medications that interact with certain foods, are prime candidates for these programs.

Payers can leverage social media to motivate members to focus on their diet as part of their health choices. Sharing evidence-based nutrition information on member portals and social platforms can enhance engagement. Tracking social media interactions allows payers to gauge members’ attitudes toward health and education related to their care.

There’s a clear interest among Americans in nutrition content. In 2024, 54% reported encountering food and nutrition-related posts on social media, an increase from 42% the previous year. This interest varies across generations: Gen Z engages with nutrition content mainly on Instagram and TikTok, while older generations prefer Facebook.

• 68% of people trust the information they find online.
• 65% believe tools like mobile apps can aid in improving their diet and exercise habits.

Despite the rise of online sources, the most trusted voices in nutrition remain healthcare professionals, registered dietitians, and wellness coaches. Just 38% would trust information from a doctor or nutritionist on social media. Therefore, while social media is a valuable tool for encouragement and education, it should complement professional advice to help members adopt healthier habits.