The Food for Health Study

Study Design - Food for Health (F4H)

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) and food insecurity disproportionately affect Native American (NA) populations. These inequities are closely tied to the social determinants of health (SDOH), including limited access to affordable, nutritious foods. Food insecurity among NAs is approximately 20% higher than among non-Hispanic Whites, reflecting structural inequities rooted in the long-term impacts of colonization, forced relocation, and the disruption of traditional food systems. In response, many tribal communities are prioritizing food sovereignty, food security, and culturally relevant health interventions to address these disparities.

Produce Prescription Programs (PPPs) represent an evidence-based intervention (EBI) that directly addresses food insecurity by linking higher risk patients with access to healthy foods. Through provider-issued prescriptions, patients receive vouchers redeemable at local food outlets for fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious items. PPPs reduce barriers to healthy eating, improve diet quality, and demonstrate promise in reducing risk for chronic disease. Importantly, PPPs align well with NA community priorities to strengthen local food systems and advance culture-centered nutrition education. However, little research has examined PPP effectiveness among rural NA older adults, a critical gap given their elevated risk for T2D and underrepresentation in nutrition and implementation research.

The Food for Health (F4H) intervention aims to fill this gap. F4H is a clinic-to-community PPP designed for rural NA older adults and co-developed with the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes (CSKT) of the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana. The intervention will connect the tribal health department (THD) with a local Food Resource Center (FRC) to enhance access to fresh produce and strengthen community-based nutrition supports. A unique feature of this study is its community-based participatory research (CBPR) framework, which ensures that the intervention is designed, implemented, and evaluated in collaboration with community partners and responsive to tribal priorities such as food security and sovereignty.

The study will be conducted in two phases.

Phase 1 (Aim 1): Assess the acceptability of F4H and identify implementation determinants. Ten older adult participants (N=10) will engage in the intervention, and ten key informants (N=10) from the THD and FRC will participate in interviews. Data will provide insight into participant experiences, cultural appropriateness, and organizational readiness. Results will refine the intervention protocol and implementation plan to ensure alignment with community needs and context.

Phase 2 (Aim 2): Evaluate the feasibility, implementation strategies, and preliminary effectiveness of the refined F4H intervention in a larger sample of rural NA older adults (N=33). Key outcomes include changes in food insecurity and T2D risk factors (e.g., weight, blood glucose) measured pre- and post-intervention. Investigators hypothesize that participants will experience reduced food insecurity and improved T2D risk indicators immediately following the intervention.

The F4H model will be studied using implementation research methods, which prioritize understanding how EBIs can be integrated into real-world public health practice. This includes assessing contextual facilitators and barriers, stakeholder engagement, and sustainability potential. By embedding F4H in existing community and healthcare infrastructure, the project builds capacity for long-term impact and scalability within NA communities.

The long-term goal of this research is to empower rural NA communities to strengthen food systems, enhance access to healthy foods, and reduce the disproportionate burden of T2D among older adults. By combining evidence-based intervention strategies with a CBPR framework, this study addresses a significant gap in nutrition and implementation research and provides a foundation for larger-scale trials. If effective, F4H has the potential to serve as a scalable model for addressing food insecurity and chronic disease prevention in tribal communities nationwide.

Inclusion criteria

• Adults aged 55 years or older
• Live on the Flathead Reservation
• Self-identify as Native American (NA)
• Food insecurity, as determined using Hunger Vital Sign™, a two question screener asked by providers.
• Diabetes diagnosis
• Pre-diabetic based on HbA1c lab results of (5.7-6.4%) or scores 5+ on the National Diabetes Prevention Programs screener based on health and history.

Exclusion criteria

• Individuals with end-stage renal disease
• Their health provider states they should not participate