Unhealthy Eating Drives $8 Trillion in Annual Hidden Costs
November 8, 2024
A new study published in the journal JAMA Internal Medicine has found that unhealthy eating habits are responsible for an astonishing $8 trillion in annual hidden costs globally.
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Washington and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, analyzed data from 195 countries and found that poor diet was associated with a wide range of health problems, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes. These conditions not only lead to significant healthcare costs but also result in lost productivity, absenteeism, and premature death.
“Our study shows that the economic consequences of unhealthy eating are far greater than previously thought,” said lead author Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, a cardiologist and professor at the University of Washington. “These hidden costs are a major burden on society and need to be addressed.”
The study found that the hidden costs of unhealthy eating are particularly high in low- and middle-income countries. In these countries, poor diet is a leading cause of premature death and disability, and it can have a devastating impact on economic development.
“In many developing countries, people are spending a large portion of their income on unhealthy foods that are making them sick and shortening their lives,” said Dr. Mozaffarian. “This is a serious problem that needs to be addressed.”
The researchers say that there are a number of things that can be done to reduce the hidden costs of unhealthy eating. These include:
- Improving access to healthy foods
- Making healthy foods more affordable
- Educating people about the importance of healthy eating
- Implementing policies that promote healthy eating
“We need to make it easier for people to make healthy choices,” said Dr. Mozaffarian. “By doing so, we can not only improve our health but also save trillions of dollars in hidden costs.”
Unhealthy eating drives $8 trillion in annual hidden costs
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