Diet-related diseases are some of the leading causes of death and disability in the U.S. New data show that 19 states and two territories have an obesity prevalence at or above 35%, more than double the number of states from 2018. One in 10 Americans have diabetes. One in 3 people will have cancer in their lifetime. And, more than 4 in 10 Americans have hypertension (high blood pressure), which is linked to the leading causes of death for Americans: heart disease and stroke.
The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated food insecurity, diet-related diseases, and health disparities. At the start of the pandemic in early 2020, the percentage of food insecure households with children reached 14.8%, up from 13.6% in 2019.11 This increase disrupted a decade-long downward trend.12 Devastatingly, diet-related diseases also increase the risk for severe symptoms and death from COVID-19. One study estimated that nearly two-thirds of COVID-19 hospitalizations in the U.S. were related to obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and heart failure.
Diet-related diseases are caused in part by poor eating patterns including excess calorie intake— and the failure to meet the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The vast majority of Americans do not eat enough vegetables, fruits, or whole grains and eat too much saturated fat, sodium, and added sugars. And, only 23% of Americans meet physical activity recommendations. Regular physical activity can reduce the risk of heart disease and diabetes, help manage weight, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve people’s ability to do everyday activities.
Better support prevention and management of diabetes.
To help address growing rates of diabetes:
- HHS CMS will develop a strategy to increase access to diabetes prevention and treatment services for individuals with Medicare, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and Marketplace coverage. The Administration will also work with Congress to make the Medicare Diabetes Prevention Program a cost-effective permanent Medicare preventive service benefit.
- HHS CDC will provide new funding opportunities to support the implementation of evidence-based diabetes prevention and management strategies in state and localities, with a focus on reducing health disparities.
The private sector should invest in robust research and development focused on nutrition, equity, and health, including research on the microbiome, immunity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases and underserved populations.