As a doctor certified in two clinical specialties, I have written countless prescriptions for patients to address and prevent disease. However, I have never written a prescription for food – until now. Recent advancements in science have shown us that food can be a powerful form of medicine.
The United States is currently facing an obesity epidemic that has been affecting our nation’s Health and wellbeing for years. Nearly 42% of American adults are obese, leading to a rise in diet-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. This epidemic is not only detrimental to our health but also has a significant financial impact, costing our healthcare and food systems billions of dollars annually.
While there have been advancements in clinical treatments for obesity, such as the FDA approval of Semaglutide, a drug that can aid in weight loss, these treatments are often costly and not accessible to all Americans in need. Additionally, the long-term effects of these drugs are still unknown.
On the other hand, we do know that the food we consume on a daily basis has a direct impact on our health. By making informed decisions about our diet, we can reduce the burden of chronic diseases like obesity, improve our physical and mental wellbeing, and enhance our overall quality of life.
The “Food as Medicine” movement emphasizes the importance of using whole, nutritious foods to prevent and treat illnesses. This movement encourages healthcare providers to collaborate with nutrition experts to educate patients on their dietary needs and empower them to take control of their health.
Despite the benefits of incorporating food as medicine interventions, the uptake has been slow due to inadequate provider education and challenges with insurance coverage and reimbursement. To expand access to these interventions, we must prioritize policy changes that address these barriers and promote the use of nutrition-focused treatments.
Through initiatives like the Bipartisan Policy Center’s Food is Medicine Working Group, which provides actionable policy recommendations to enhance nutrition education and access to proven food as medicine interventions, we can accelerate the adoption of this powerful form of treatment and ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of our population.
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