Chances are pretty good that you have heard the statistics about health outcomes for Americans.
Americans spent $5.3 trillion on healthcare in 2024, or $15,474 per person, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. That was a 7.2% year over year increase that accounted for 18% of the country’s total gross domestic product.
According to one study, the U.S. spends twice as much per person on health as peer nations due to higher prices. Much of that higher price is due to administrative costs, according to the Commonwealth Fund. The administrative cost for insurers and providers along with higher costs for prescription drugs and higher wages for physicians and registered nurses all add up to the unaffordable mess the U.S. healthcare system has become.
And what do we get for all of that money? The U.S. ranks 33rd globally, according to U.S. News and World Report, sandwiched in between Kuwait and Belarus for the best health outcomes.
The best way to save money on healthcare costs is to avoid going to the hospital. And while no one plans to get sick or face medical hardships, diet and exercise have been proven to aid in this area.
This week, the Access To Nutrition initiative, an independent non-profit ¨actively creating healthier food environments,¨called on the makers of processed foods to start helping Americans live healthier lives and save over 100,000 lives.
Processed food is killing Americans
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans states that the average American diet consists of excess sodium, saturated fat, refined grains and calories from solid fats and added sugars.
Additionally, it also says that Americans eat less vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy products, and oils that recommended, helping lead to a 35% obesity rate among adults.
¨As expected, studies in mice and rats show that those following a Western diet tend to gain more weight than those eating standard chow,¨according to a study from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. ¨In addition to weight gain, a Western diet also results in impaired cardiac function in mice… cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and 9% of the population has diabetes.¨
With that in mind, the ATNi says it’s time for processed food makers to step in.
Pepsi, Nestle, processed food makers have the opportunity to save lives
The Trump administration has tasked the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention with making America healthy again, and while the methods are up for debate, the ATNi appreciates the emphasis on an issue that has plagued the country for decades.
¨The U.S. is at a pivotal moment in addressing diet- related disease. With rising regulatory attention, shifting consumer expectations and increasing investor scrutiny, the healthiness of packaged food portfolios has become a material issue for industry and public health alike,¨ the ATNi says in its latest report.
Poor diets are the leading cause of death in the U.S., contributing to about 1 million deaths each year and costing an estimated $50 billion annually, according to their research.
Processed foods account for about 80% of the calories Americans consume annually, meaning food and beverage manufacturers like Pepsi and Nestle play a pivotal role in U.S. health.
The study models a scenario where sales shift towards the healthiest 50% of products within each food category.
¨Under this scenario, it is estimated that reduced intake of energy, saturated fat and salt, alongside increased fiber intake, could result in around 150,000 fewer deaths linked to diet-related diseases in the US in a single year,¨the study concludes.
That shift could also prevent about $11.6 billion a year in lost working-age earnings associated with premature deaths from diet-related disease. Those estimates are based on data from nearly 10,000 commercial packaged food products sold by 24 of the largest food and beverage companies.
¨Importantly, the estimates are grounded in products already available on the market. Achieving these gains would not require companies to reinvent their entire portfolios but rather to produce and sell substantially higher proportions of the healthier options already on supermarket shelves,¨ the study says.
¨With thousands of lives on the line, this study shows that F&B companies have a real opportunity to unlock substantial public health benefits by rebalancing their portfolios towards healthier products.¨
Pepsi promotes healthy options
For its part, Pepsi has recognized the business opportunity that comes with its healthier food options.
¨PepsiCo aims to offer foods and beverages that people and families enjoy and that fit diverse lifestyles,¨the company states on its healthy foods website.
¨As tastes and consumer preferences evolve and nutrition science and associated guidance advances, we continue to adapt our portfolio and product offerings to remain a leading convenient foods and drinks company.¨
¨PepsiCo understands the important role of nutrition in public health, and we remain focused on improvements to the nutritional value of our products by improving nutrient density within our portfolio of great tasting products, providing more positive choices for our consumers.
Related: Pepsi, Kroger, and Costco have a problem with shoppers like me
