Research Highlights:
- Adults with Type 2 medically tailored meals program for eight months ate healthier, had easier access to healthy options and had improvements in nutrition scores, HbA1c and blood pressure.
- Gradually reducing the number of meals that participants received each month did not decrease the initiative’s health benefits when complemented with a heart health program focused on healthy eating at home.
- Programs that promote the concept of food is medicine may be an effective way to improve the health of people with multiple chronic health conditions, the researchers said.
- Note: The study featured in this news release is a research abstract.Abstracts presented at American Heart Association’s scientific meetings are not peer-reviewed, and the findings are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed scientific journal.
Embargoed until 4 a.m. CT/5 a.m. ET, Monday, Nov. 2, 2026
DALLAS, Nov. 2, 2026 — An 8-month program providing medically tailored meals improved diet quality and access to healthy food for adults with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. It also enhanced cardiometabolic health (heart, blood vessels and metabolism) by lowering blood pressure and blood sugar, according to new, independent preliminary research to be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026. The meeting, Nov. 6-9, in Chicago, is a premier global exchange of the latest scientific advancements, research and evidence-based clinical practice updates in cardiovascular science.
The research also found that gradually reducing the number of meals that participants received each month did not decrease the initiative’s health benefits when complemented with a heart health curriculum focused on healthy eating at home. Overall, the findings suggest that expanding access to programs that provide medically tailored meals for people with chronic health conditions could help to prevent the worsening of their health. Usually, food is medicine interventions have focused on people with advanced or terminal conditions. This study suggests earlier introduction of such programs and a focus on preventing the progression of cardiometabolic health diseases could be more impactful, researchers said.
