Instacart and Foodsmart: Pioneering Nutrition Solutions for Chronic Disease Management
In a groundbreaking collaboration, Instacart (NASDAQ: CART), North America’s leading grocery technology company, has partnered with Foodsmart, the nation’s largest telenutrition provider, to address the pressing issue of nutrition-related health challenges. Their recently released white paper highlights the significant positive health outcomes achieved over the past two years, particularly for individuals living with obesity and diabetes. This partnership exemplifies how technology and nutrition can converge to create scalable solutions for chronic disease management.
The Nutrition Crisis in America
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that poor nutrition is a leading driver of chronic diseases, which account for a substantial portion of illness, disability, and death in the United States. Alarmingly, diet-related diseases contribute to approximately 85% of healthcare spending, costing the nation around $1.1 trillion annually. This stark reality underscores the urgent need for effective, scalable solutions that integrate nutrition into healthcare delivery.
As new treatments, such as GLP-1 medications, gain traction, experts emphasize that while these drugs can be effective, sustainable health improvements hinge on long-term dietary and behavioral changes. For individuals managing diabetes and obesity, these changes are not just beneficial; they are essential for improving overall health and quality of life.
The Instacart and Foodsmart Partnership
The collaboration between Instacart and Foodsmart offers a comprehensive program designed to empower health plan members, including those enrolled in commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. By combining Foodsmart’s telenutrition services with Instacart’s grocery delivery capabilities, the program provides members with access to medically-tailored groceries and personalized nutrition support.
Participants receive Instacart Health Fresh Funds, which are stipends that allow them to purchase dietitian-recommended foods from their preferred local grocery stores via Instacart. This initiative is particularly impactful as Instacart reaches over 98% of U.S. households, including 93% of those living in food deserts. The program not only addresses immediate nutritional needs but also fosters long-term behavior changes that can lead to improved health outcomes.
Positive Health Outcomes
The results from the partnership have been promising. Over a two-year period, more than 18,500 members participated in the program, and the outcomes were significant:
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Enhanced Diabetes Management: Among members with diabetes who utilized both telenutrition and Instacart services, 52.9% experienced a clinically significant reduction in Hemoglobin A1c levels, a key marker for diabetes management. In contrast, only 43.2% of those who relied solely on telenutrition saw similar improvements.
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Sustained Weight Loss: The integration of medically-tailored groceries through Instacart increased the likelihood of achieving a weight loss of 5% or more by nearly 50%. At the 21-month mark, 47.1% of participants living with obesity who engaged with both services achieved this milestone, compared to just 32.1% of those using telenutrition alone.
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Improved Nutrition Habits: Participants who combined telenutrition with grocery delivery reported an 8.6% improvement in their nutrition scores, compared to a 3.3% improvement for those using telenutrition services alone.
- Increased Engagement: The combination of telenutrition and Instacart services nearly doubled member engagement, suggesting that this integrated approach not only enhances health outcomes but also fosters better interactions with dietitians.
Expert Insights
Sarah Mastrorocco, Vice President and General Manager of Health at Instacart, emphasized the transformative potential of this partnership: “Clinical outcomes from Foodsmart’s partnership with Instacart demonstrate the powerful role that medically-tailored groceries and accessible delivery can play in healthcare.” She noted that the program empowers members to make informed choices and sustain healthy habits over the long term.
Dr. Jason Langheier, CEO and Founder of Foodsmart, echoed this sentiment, stating, “The partnership between Instacart and Foodsmart is one of the largest demonstrations of how comprehensive Foodcare can equitably lower chronic disease outcomes and healthcare costs at scale across the U.S.” He advocates for universal access to dietitian services, highlighting the importance of having trusted partners to guide families in making sustainable dietary changes.
Conclusion
The collaboration between Instacart and Foodsmart represents a significant step forward in addressing the nutrition crisis in America. By combining technology with personalized nutrition support, this partnership is not only improving health outcomes for individuals living with chronic diseases but also paving the way for a healthier future for all Americans.
To explore the full impact of this innovative program on nutrition, weight management, and diabetes control, you can download the complete white paper here.
About Instacart
Instacart partners with over 1,500 retailers to facilitate online shopping and delivery services from more than 85,000 stores across North America. The platform empowers millions of consumers to access groceries conveniently while providing flexible earning opportunities for approximately 600,000 shoppers.
About Foodsmart
Foodsmart is the largest telenutrition and food benefits management platform in the U.S., offering personalized dietary assessments, nutrition counseling, and budget-friendly online food ordering options to help members make healthier food choices and achieve lasting behavior change.
In a world where nutrition is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of health, the collaboration between Instacart and Foodsmart stands as a beacon of hope, demonstrating that accessible, tailored nutrition solutions can lead to meaningful improvements in health outcomes for individuals across the nation.
