Key result
Redeeming fruit and vegetable prescriptions is linked to ~53% lower odds of pediatric obesity.
Why the study?
Whether engagement in a pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program offering one $15 prescription during office visits improves youth blood pressure and weight status after one year was examined.
Does participation and prescription redemption in a pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program improve blood pressure and weight status in children aged 8–16 years?
Does participation and prescription redemption in a pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program improve blood pressure and weight status in children aged 8–16 years?
Odds Ratio: 0.47
p-value: p=0.01
Engagement and prescription redemption in a pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program are associated with significant reductions in BMI percentile, blood pressure, and odds of obesity at one year.
FVPP participation was associated with improved BMI and BP in youth; leaves open confirmation in randomized trials before practice change.
Background/Objectives: This study examined whether engagement in a pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program (FVPP) offering one $15 prescription during office visits influenced health, hypothesizing that youth improve blood pressure (BP) and weight status after one year. Methods: This non-controlled longitudinal intervention trial included data from caregiver–child dyads at one pediatric clinic (child age 8–16 years). Correlated data models evaluated average longitudinal trends of study endpoints. Causal inference analyses for longitudinal data estimated time-varying effects of the FVPP on outcomes. Results: In total, 304 dyads enrolled. Youth reduced mean body mass index (BMI) percentile (p = 0.02), systolic BP (p < 0.001), and diastolic BP (p = 0.01). Youth also reduced the odds of elevated systolic BP (p < 0.001), diastolic BP (p = 0.004), and overall BP (p = 0.003). Children who redeemed ≥1 prescription reduced BMI percentile compared to counterparts who did not redeem (p = 0.02). Children who redeemed ≥1 prescription between baseline and 6 months reduced odds of obesity or elevated systolic BP at 12 months, with a relative odds ratio of 0.47 (p = 0.01) or 0.51 (p = 0.05), compared to peers who did not redeem. Conclusions: The results suggest that pediatric FVPP engagement may contribute to improvements in key health outcomes, underscoring the need for further investigation.
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Saxe-Custack et al. (2026) studied Pediatric blood pressure and weight status (n=304). Pediatric fruit and vegetable prescription program (FVPP) vs. Non-controlled (or peers who did not redeem prescriptions in subgroup analyses) was evaluated on Blood pressure and weight status (BMI percentile, systolic BP, diastolic BP, obesity, elevated BP) (OR 0.47, p=0.01). Redeeming ≥1 fruit and vegetable prescription reduced 12-month odds of obesity (OR 0.47, p=0.01) and elevated systolic BP (OR 0.51, p=0.05) vs non-redemption.
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