Food and Nutrition Affect Health
Nutritious food can be a powerful way to improve health and decrease the likelihood of many conditions. Life stressors such as limited time and financial concerns can also make it more difficult to consistently prioritize nutritious meals. We believe progress can be achieved when health plans work closely with members and communities to better understand and provide the desired support, such as through nutritional coaching or nourishing foods. Our whole-health approach guides members to opportunities that improve access to nutritious food and resources for the people and communities we serve.
So much more goes into one’s health than what happens at the doctor’s office. We put a focus on health-related social needs, as well as the cultural and taste preferences that come with it. Food is a part of our design for better health.”
Elevance Health Food as Medicine Director
Over-reliance on processed food can lead to chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart failure and coronary artery disease. Food is at the center of a lot of different health solutions.”
Elevance Health Chief Health Officer
Food and Nutrition Insecurity Is a Byproduct of Health Inequity
Food insecurity is about quantity—not having enough food to eat to sustain daily life. Nutrition insecurity stems from food insecurity and means that even if someone has enough food, it often lacks necessary nutritional value. Not being able to access or afford nutritious food influences an individual’s physical health as well as the health and well-being of their household.
Food insecurity affects health outcomes, increasing the risk of high cholesterol, hypertension, chronic health conditions, and changes in functional limitations. (CDC)
More than 44 million people, including 13 million children, experience food insecurity in the United States. (USDA)
Nutrition security matters because poor nutrition is a leading cause of illness in the United States, and 600,000 people die each year due to diet-related diseases. (USDA)
A Conversation With Dr. Kofi Essel on Why Food as Medicine Matters to Elevance Health
Access to nutritious food is an important social driver that affects health. ‘Access’ means a person has the money to pay for nutritious food, the transportation to a store that sells it, the proper storage to maintain it, and the tools and skills to prepare and serve it. It’s one of several health-related social needs that, when addressed, can influence health as much as exercise frequency, tobacco use, or blood pressure. Elevance Health is working to shape a health system where social drivers are further embedded into healthcare.
How Does Food Insecurity Affect Health?
More than 44 million people in the United States — roughly 14% of the population —experience food insecurity. People in households experiencing food insecurity have much higher rates of diet-related chronic diseases and poor nutrient intake, along with increased mental health concerns, healthcare spending and hospitalizations. Improving food insecurity at home is one of many steps that can directly improve the overall health of families.
Roots of Change: How a School Garden Feeds a Community’s Need for Nutritious Food
When Bari Applebaum was a teacher at Manual Arts High School, she learned about the abandoned green space on school grounds and saw an opportunity for growth. The South Los Angeles school sits in a food desert, a geographic area with limited access to affordable and nutritious food. Applebaum, an experienced gardener, was confident the space could be transformed into a bountiful vegetable garden.
Ideas, Research, and Action
Elevance Health Impact
Elevance Health Foundation’s Grant to Feeding America Shows Promising ResultsElevance Health Foundation’s $14.1 million grant to Feeding America’s Food as Medicine program helps address a key social driver of health: food insecurity. Results of the program show that access to nutritious food goes beyond just satisfying hunger to providing a foundation for good health.
A Community Health Story
How Are Community Food Banks Innovating for the Future?Food banks and food pantries have faced increasing demand for food to help support the whole health of individuals and communities. At the same time, many food banks are finding innovative ways to make the experience of visiting the community food pantry more convenient, equitable, and enjoyable — and improve the nutritional value of the food they provide.
Elevance Health Impact
Elevance Health Associates Fight Food Insecurity at Company-wide Volunteer EventsElevance Health associates are committed to their communities and take pride in helping the people we’re privileged to serve. During Elevance Health Volunteer Days – a company-wide season of service in September and October – more than 2,000 associates and their guests gave back to their communities, with a special emphasis on food as medicine and food insecurity.