FIM+DASH: Food is Medicine Intervention to Promote Healthy Eating and Blood Pressure Control

Conditions studied

Hypertension, Hypertension (HTN), Obesity & Overweight

About this study

The goal of this clinical trial is to treat both hypertension and obesity in adults using a food is medicine framework. Participants will be randomized 1:1 to FIM+DASH or usual-care control. The 24-week trial includes a 12-week FIM+DASH intervention followed by a 12-week maintenance period and leverages existing partnerships with community-based organizations for home food delivery and culinary skill-skill building. The main questions it aims to answer are: (1) What is the effect of FIM+DASH vs. usual care control on blood pressure? (2) What is the effect of FIM+DASH vs. usual care control on DASH diet adherence (diet quality), body weight, and waist circumference? (3) How to identify factors associated with the sustainability and scalability of FIM+DASH in real-world settings?

Interventions

• Combination Product: FIM intervention arm — For weeks 1-12: Culinary skill-building: 8 In-person and remote sessions will teach participants core techniques (knife skills, batch cooking, sodium-aware seasoning, whole-grain preparation, vegetable-forward entrées, low fat dairy use, lean-protein methods). DASH-friendly home food delivery. Participants will receive 12 weekly deliveries that provide items consistent with DASH (e.g., fruits/vegetables, low-fat dairy \[lactose-free available\], whole grains, lean proteins) dietary regimen. Participants will receive one-on-one support sessions with the interventionist to reinforce DASH adoption/adherence and HTN self-management tasks. For weeks 13-24, self-monitoring of BP and weight twice monthly continues via the text platform.
• Combination Product: FIM Usual Care Arm — FIM Usual care arm (control) receives usual clinical care during the 24-week period, with limited study contact outside scheduled data-collection visits; after completing all study visits, control participants receive the post-study materials

Primary outcomes

• Systolic and diastolic changes from baseline to 12 weeks and 24 weeks (Baseline, 12 weeks and 24 weeks)