06/22/2026
This study evaluated the short-term outcomes of a six-month clinic-based produce prescription program on food security, dietary behaviors, and health indicators among adults at a clinic-based food pharmacy. Using a non-experimental pre-post design, 62 adults were enrolled between June 2024 and April 2025; all identified as food insecure and diagnosed with at least one diet-related chronic condition. Participants received free produce every two weeks for six months. Food security was measured using the USDA 6-item food security module, alongside self-reported daily fruit and vegetable servings, self-reported health status, and BMI.
Results showed meaningful improvements across several outcomes. Food security improved significantly, with participants nearly twice as likely to report improved food security compared to baseline. Fruit intake increased by 0.65 servings per day and vegetable intake by 0.60 servings per day. Odds of reporting better overall health status also increased. BMI change was not statistically significant. These findings suggest that clinic-based produce prescriptions may reduce food insecurity and improve diet quality and perceived health among high-risk patients, though limitations include a small sample size, a single study site, reliance on self-reported data, and the absence of a control group.
Read the full article from the American Journal of Health Promotion
