Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease, impact an estimated 133 million Americans — more than 38% (or one-third) of the total U.S. population — and cost the United States $1.1 trillion per year (equivalent to what the U.S. spends on food itself). The vast majority of chronic conditions are diet-related: In the United States alone, poor diets contribute to 500,000 deaths annually. Modeling on medically tailored meals shows that investing in FIM programs could save an estimated $32.1 billion a year, significantly reducing Americans’ healthcare costs.
Even still, only 13% of Americans polled said they knew about FIM programs, which include interventions such as medically tailored meals and prescriptions for accessing fruits and vegetables, coupled with nutrition support. When presented with the definition of what they entail, survey respondents (84%) resoundingly supported the efforts. Some of the key findings include:
- More than 4 in 5 Americans believe U.S. healthcare should offer more food and nutrition programs to treat and manage illnesses.
- Nearly 9 in 10 patients would prefer to rely more on healthy eating than on medications to manage their conditions.
- Nearly 4 in 5 Americans think that Food is Medicine programs should be covered by both public and private insurance, including 85% of self-identified Democrats and 78% of Republicans.
- 84% of respondents believed FIM could help improve the overall quality of health in the United States.
- 79% of respondents said FIM programs could help them personally.
- 49% of the American public and 67% of healthcare workers view high costs of nutritious food as the single largest barrier to eating well.
“We are seeing a growing awareness of diet-related diseases and their consequences in the U.S.,” said Devon Klatell, Vice President for the Food Initiative at The Rockefeller Foundation. “This polling data shows that Americans want more support to eat well and live well. Food is Medicine programs are one tool that health care practitioners and providers must be considering as they work to address chronic disease in America.”
The Rockefeller Foundation commissioned Hattaway Communications to conduct the survey, which polled respondents across all 50 states between February 28 and March 11, 2025. The survey sampled 2,271 respondents, including 1,135 patients and 399 healthcare workers. The sample was weighted by gender and education to align with the actual proportions within the population and is representative of racial demographics across the U.S.
Since 2019, The Rockefeller Foundation has supported Food is Medicine programs and invested in research to improve their effectiveness and understand the benefits and costs. As part of this effort, The Foundation announced its $100 million investment to expand access to Food is Medicine, including supporting vital research like the American Heart Association’s Health Care by Food Initiative. The Foundation also initiated partnerships with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to speed the integration of Food Is Medicine into health systems. In February 2025, The Rockefeller Foundation announced $3.5 million in grant funding to support small and mid-scale U.S. farmers, improve health outcomes for people with chronic disease, mitigate rising health care costs in California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., and advance state-based efforts to include FIM interventions as a medically covered benefit under Medicaid programs.
About The Rockefeller Foundation
The Rockefeller Foundation is a pioneering philanthropy built on collaborative partnerships at the frontiers of science, technology, and innovation that enable individuals, families, and communities to flourish. We make big bets to promote the wellbeing of humanity. Today, we are focused on advancing human opportunity and reversing the climate crisis by transforming systems in food, health, energy, and finance. For more information, sign up for our newsletter at www.rockefellerfoundation.org/subscribe and follow us on X @RockefellerFdn and LinkedIn @the-rockefeller-foundation.
