Half the world will be overweight or obese by 2035—costing $4 trillion annually.
To combat this, food-as-medicine startups are rethinking the American diet.
Let’s break it down…
To combat this, food-as-medicine startups are rethinking the American diet.
Let’s break it down…
The current state of our food is harming American health:
• Type 2 diabetes cases are projected to double by 2045
• 20% of deaths are attributable to diet-related diseases
• In 30 years, obesity rates doubled in adults, tripled in children, and quadrupled in adolescents.
• Type 2 diabetes cases are projected to double by 2045
• 20% of deaths are attributable to diet-related diseases
• In 30 years, obesity rates doubled in adults, tripled in children, and quadrupled in adolescents.
Nearly half of all deaths in the US are connected to diet-related illnesses, with studies suggesting a 75% higher risk of mortality for food-insecure adults.
To make matters worse, food insecurity is rising, while many suffer from chronic malnourishment.
To make matters worse, food insecurity is rising, while many suffer from chronic malnourishment.
Eating healthy is not easy, especially for low-income communities disproportionately affected by diet-related diseases who face challenges in accessing fresh food.
The food-as-medicine movement recognizes the integral role of nutrition in overall well-being.
The food-as-medicine movement recognizes the integral role of nutrition in overall well-being.
With food-as-medicine, personalized (or medically tailored) meals are used to prevent, manage, and treat illnesses.
The concept aligns with the famous Hippocrates quote, "Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food."
The concept aligns with the famous Hippocrates quote, "Let food be thy medicine, and let medicine be thy food."
Scientific studies support the benefits of consuming more fresh fruits and vegetables.
A diet filled with whole foods can lower cardiovascular mortality rates, reduce the risk of obesity, and help manage type 2 diabetes.
A diet filled with whole foods can lower cardiovascular mortality rates, reduce the risk of obesity, and help manage type 2 diabetes.
However, various factors contribute to our persistently unhealthy habits.
Many US adults and children have poor-quality diets and substantial healthcare spending associated with diet-related chronic diseases.
In response, startups are emerging to revolutionize our food:
Many US adults and children have poor-quality diets and substantial healthcare spending associated with diet-related chronic diseases.
In response, startups are emerging to revolutionize our food:
@SeasonHealth
This "digital food pharmacy" raised $34M to provide affordable, personalized meal kits for chronic conditions, collaborating with health systems, grocers, and food delivery companies.
This "digital food pharmacy" raised $34M to provide affordable, personalized meal kits for chronic conditions, collaborating with health systems, grocers, and food delivery companies.
@FaethTx
Approaching cancer as a metabolic issue, this company raised a $47M Series A to conduct clinical trials on nutrition plans that can complement conventional drug-based treatments.
Approaching cancer as a metabolic issue, this company raised a $47M Series A to conduct clinical trials on nutrition plans that can complement conventional drug-based treatments.
@OvivaTx
Targeting Europeans with diet-related health challenges, this digital diet and lifestyle coach secured $80M to scale its health tech business, bringing certified dietitians, health systems, and insurers together.
Targeting Europeans with diet-related health challenges, this digital diet and lifestyle coach secured $80M to scale its health tech business, bringing certified dietitians, health systems, and insurers together.
@foodsmartbyzip
This personalized telenutrition platform partners with registered dietitians, employers, and health plans to make healthy eating simple and affordable, with a recent $25M Series C.
This personalized telenutrition platform partners with registered dietitians, employers, and health plans to make healthy eating simple and affordable, with a recent $25M Series C.
Meal kit companies are making moves to simplify healthy eating:
@Sunbasketmeals merged w/ @justpruvit.
@LumenMetabolism partnered w/ @MetabolicMeals.
@Sunbasketmeals merged w/ @justpruvit.
@LumenMetabolism partnered w/ @MetabolicMeals.
Digital clinics like @virtahealth create meal plans to combat diabetes through nutrition, while glucose monitoring startups like Levels offer real-time feedback on metabolic health.
@Join_ZOE, @seedhealth, and @daytwohealth offer personal nutrition plans at scale.
@Join_ZOE, @seedhealth, and @daytwohealth offer personal nutrition plans at scale.
Grocers also play a crucial role in food selection, with Kroger and Heinen's offering telenutrition services and Schnuck Markets partnering with Spoon Guru for food tracking.
The Biden Administration has approved the use of Medicaid funds to cover the cost of fresh produce and nutrition counseling.
This step aims to promote preventive healthcare measures and reduce the need for expensive medical interventions.
This step aims to promote preventive healthcare measures and reduce the need for expensive medical interventions.
While this action has received some bipartisan support, opponents argue that it exceeds the scope of unproven science.
Many say that the existing federal food benefits program, SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), makes the new policy redundant.
Many say that the existing federal food benefits program, SNAP (formerly known as food stamps), makes the new policy redundant.
As the debate continues, many Americans still struggle to meet their food needs:
• In 2021, 10% of US households experienced food insecurity
• Approximately 54.7% of SNAP benefits are used to purchase ultra-processed foods
• In 2021, 10% of US households experienced food insecurity
• Approximately 54.7% of SNAP benefits are used to purchase ultra-processed foods
Home-delivered, medically tailored meals have the potential to save the US an estimated $13.6 billion annually.
Medicare and Medicaid programs provide the greatest benefits.
Medicare and Medicaid programs provide the greatest benefits.
However, Big Food and misaligned incentives in the healthcare system are deeply rooted within American society.
Achieving widespread access and affordability of fresh food poses a considerable challenge.
Achieving widespread access and affordability of fresh food poses a considerable challenge.
Extreme weather, inflation, and geopolitical conflicts contribute to the increasing costs of fresh fruits and vegetables.
But considering that diet-related illnesses impose an economic cost of $1T/yr, investing in improving the American diet should not be controversial.
But considering that diet-related illnesses impose an economic cost of $1T/yr, investing in improving the American diet should not be controversial.
Last year, I published a breakdown on Food as Medicine
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For more health and wellness industry analysis, follow me @JoeVennare.
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