An Urban Farm-Anchored Produce Prescription Program's Impacts On Weight Reduction

Top Things to Know

VeggieRx participants experienced a notable decrease in body weight over eighteen months.

Despite weight loss, HbA1c levels did not show significant improvement.

Anchoring produce prescription programs to local urban farms can enhance health outcomes and support community development.

Summary of Conclusion/Findings

The study evaluated the VeggieRx produce prescription program, anchored by the Farm on Ogden in Chicago, which provides free produce boxes, nutrition counseling, and cooking classes to patients in a historically disinvested food desert. Over a period from January 2016 to December 2021, the program showed significant health benefits, including a mean body weight reduction of 6.71 pounds and a percentage body weight reduction of 4.7% at eighteen months compared to a control group. The findings suggest that place-based FIM interventions can improve health outcomes while investing in local communities. Despite the weight loss, there were no significant changes in HbA1c levels. The study highlights the importance of community-based agricultural facilities in addressing food insecurity and promoting health equity.