Adherence
Implementing a 30% financial incentive for fruits and vegetables (F&V) within the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) increases F&V intake and prevents cardiovascular disease events, resulting in net healthcare cost savings over a lifetime.
If you are a policy maker or advocate, push for a 30% discount on fruits and vegetables for SNAP recipients. This specific financial incentive has been modeled to significantly reduce heart disease and save money on healthcare costs over the long term.
Over a lifetime, the F&V incentive would prevent approximately 303,900 CVD events, gain 649,000 QALYs, and save $6.77 billion in healthcare costs.
Why this rating
The evidence is based on a microsimulation model using national data and meta-analyses, not a direct randomized controlled trial of the specific policy at scale.
Source
Cost-effectiveness of financial incentives and disincentives for improving food purchases and health through the US Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): A microsimulation study
Dariush Mozaffarian et al. · PLoS Medicine · 2018
DOI 10.1371/journal.pmed.1002661
More from this paper
- Restricting the purchase of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) using SNAP funds, when combined with fruit and vegetable incentives, significantly amplifies cardiovascular disease prevention and healthcare cost savings compared to fruit and vegetable incentives alone.Moderate
- A comprehensive incentive/disincentive program (SNAP-plus) that subsidizes multiple healthy food groups (F&V, nuts, whole grains, fish, plant-based oils) and disincentivizes unhealthy groups (SSBs, junk food, processed meats) yields the largest health gains and net cost savings among the tested interventions.Moderate
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- Resistance exercise is the only intervention capable of consistently restoring muscle function and strength in sarcopenia, partially overcoming age-related anabolic resistance.Strong
This is one finding among thousands. Every one is graded and traced to its source, so you can see what the evidence actually supports. Browse the research →