Researchers with UTHealth Houston School of Public Health are spearheading efforts in Texas to test the effectiveness of Food is Medicine interventions to improve maternal and infant health outcomes.
Research funding to support these efforts are a part of the American Heart Association’s $7.8 million national initiative to expand Food is Medicine projects under its Health Care by Food program. Public health researchers have embarked on groundbreaking efforts to enhance health outcomes by way of nutrition.
Researchers are actively engaged in food-based interventions like food prescription plans and other resource designs to mitigate the impacts of food insecurity and chronic health conditions.
Shreela Sharma, Ph.D., RDN, LD
Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Epidemiology, and Director of the Center for Health Equity, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
Shreela Sharma, Ph.D., RDN, LD, professor and vice chair of the Department of Epidemiology, was awarded $430,452 for the project “Testing the Impact of TBES (text-based engagement strategies) Rx.” This project will test the impact of high-frequency messaging with cardholders on activity and utilization to increase fruit and vegetable consumption for high-risk pregnant mothers. Outcomes from the study will be used to build similar messaging platforms to boost healthy eating habits. “This project will test strategies to enhance engagement in produce prescription programs, and assess optimal dosage and delivery strategies,” said Sharma, who also serves as director for the Center for Health Equity.
Nalini Ranjit, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences and at the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
Nalini Ranjit, Ph.D., associate professor of the Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences and at the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, will serve as the primary investigator on a $447,480 award, alongside Sharma, to examine the utilization of a produce prescription program among high-risk pregnant mothers. The project will analyze the effectiveness of tailored nutrition plans and food preparation guidance in improving health outcomes for high-risk pregnant women. Ranjit and Sharma plan to bolster partnerships with for-profit food distributors to process and deliver biweekly produce plans of fresh fruits and vegetables to participants’ homes.
Access to produce prescription plans can aid in addressing health disparities and barriers that leave pregnant women at health risk. “Lacking such access, low-income populations are at disproportionately higher risk of developing several chronic diseases, which are far more expensive to treat than prevent,” said Ranjit, emphasizing the positive outcomes this could have on healthcare systems.
Alexandra van den Berg, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences and associate director of the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health
In recent studies, the rise of Food is Medicine studies has been tailored to investigate its impact on postpartum women. To further this field’s research, Alexandra van den Berg, Ph.D., M.P.H., professor of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences, and associate director of the Michael and Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living, was awarded $394,804 for the project “Enhancing Food is Medicine Interventions for Food Insecure Postpartum Women in Central Texas.” Nutrition is critical for health, but for postpartum women, healthy eating is especially critical. “Postnatal maternal food insecurity is positively correlated with poorer maternal mental health, reduced breastfeeding, and higher infant hospitalization rates,” said van den Berg, emphasizing the need for adequate nutrition.
The rise of Food is Medicine has gained significant attention and emerged as a central focus for researchers and policy makers, promising innovative solutions to improve health outcomes.
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