Why Metabolic Health?

“Chronic disease accounts for 90% of the $4.9 trillion in annual U.S. healthcare spending. ” — CDC

The United States is facing an epidemic of chronic disease. Three in four U.S. adults have at least one chronic illness. Childhood obesity has doubled over the past 30 years.

Americans are getting sicker because metabolic health has been neglected. Metabolic health describes how effectively the body converts food and oxygen into energy to power the body and brain. It underpins nearly every major health outcome, including heart disease, obesity, diabetes, mental illness, and even cancer.

Today, more than 90% of Americans show signs of metabolic dysfunction. Improving metabolic health through diet and lifestyle is one of the most powerful and cost-effective approaches for reducing chronic disease and healthcare costs.

At the cellular level, metabolism depends on mitochondria to convert nutrients into energy to power the body and brain. When metabolic dysfunction occurs—when the body’s systems for converting nutrients into energy are impaired—both physical and mental health outcomes deteriorate.

An early and common signal of metabolic dysfunction is insulin resistance, which significantly increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and more. Healthcare providers also assess metabolic health by examining markers such as blood sugar, insulin levels, blood pressure, cholesterol, and inflammation.

Evidence shows that metabolic health is shaped by diet, physical activity, stress, and social conditions. That means policy change can drive real progress.

By aligning nutrition policy, healthcare delivery, public health programs, and federal research priorities with the science of metabolic health, the United States can:

• Shift its focus toward preventing chronic disease before it develops.
• Reduce long-term healthcare costs.
• Improve Americans’ physical and mental health outcomes.
• Address the root cause of chronic disease.