Taking a "food is medicine" approach, according to a new study undertaken by experts at the Mass General Brigham hospital system, could increase nutrition security for families while simultaneously lowering children's body mass index (BMI). Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children's Hospital explored if providing weekly plant-based snacks to families seeking food assistance during the epidemic affected children's weight.
Get latest articles and stories on Health at LatestLY. Taking a "food is medicine" approach, according to a new study undertaken by experts at the Mass General Brigham hospital system, could increase nutrition security for families while simultaneously lowering children s body mass index (BMI). Researchers from Massachusetts General Hospital and Boston Children s Hospital explored if providing weekly plant-based snacks to families seeking food assistance during the epidemic affected children s weight. Health News | Plant-based Meal Packages Associated with Lower BMI in Children: Study.
The research team found an association between increasing receipt of food packages and decreased BMI. The findings add to a growing body of evidence that providing plant-based foods could be a useful strategy to prevent childhood obesity in children from food-insecure families.