An innovative program combats obesity by helping families buy fruits and vegetables, says the New York Times, in describing the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, being tested at four hospitals in New York City. The program includes nutrition counseling, recipes and coupons dedicated to purchase of produce at farmers markets. “There is no single solution to the nation’s epidemic of obesity and the costly diseases that result from it. But this and similar programs at community health centers in 30 states strongly suggest that providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables, with the means to purchase them and the motivation to do so, can make a meaningful dent in the problem,” says the Times.
The program was created by nonprofit Wholesome Wave in partnership with the Laurie Tisch Illumination Fund and New York’s Health and Hospital Corp. Almost all of the families in the program increased their consumption of fresh fruit and vegetables, and 40 percent of the children enrolled in the program lowered their body mass index in four months.
Wholesome Wave conducted briefings for congressional staffers and met USDA officials last month on the program. The group says, with some modification of federal regulations, the program would be simpler to adopt and more attractive to health care providers. “It’s part of a bigger shift to preventative care,” said one Wholesome Wave official.