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Spending Less on Food, Spending More on Health Care

by Sheldon C. Good 11-27-2009 | 4:00pm
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As the health-care bill passes through Congress, one wonders about an issue that has been left out of discussions. No, not abortion. Food. How much is what we eat linked to what we spend on health care?

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First, consider the costs. The average life expectancy in the United States is around 78 years. Over the course of these 78 years, the average American can expect to spend $7,290 on health care. That's twice as much as our brothers and sisters in Canada. And in terms of GDP, double that of our friends in the United Kingdom. Oh, and both of those countries have higher life expectancy rates.

So we spend a lot on health care. But why? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 75% of our health-care spending is on preventable chronic diseases. And most of these -- obesity, Type 2 diabetes, most heart disease, and some cancers -- are linked to our diets (or lack thereof).

Specifically, about 60 percent of Americans are overweight or obese. And according to Michael Pollan, author of The Omnivore's Dilemma and In Defense of Food, we spend $147 billion to treat obesity, $116 billion to treat diabetes, and hundreds of billions more to treat cardiovascular disease and some cancers. Thank our so called "Western diet."

Our health care would not be sick care if we ate smarter. That means less low-fiber food (corn and soy) and more high-quality fibrous foods (fruits, vegetables, and whole grains). But unfortunately, our current agribusiness and health-care systems benefit from large-scale corn and soybean plantations as well as factory farms, which are unsafe for animals, humans, and our environment.

It's a poor equation: spend less on food, spend more on health care. And no matter how many farmer's markets we have, the poor among us will continue to eat cheap, processed food, or no food at all. Approximately 1 billion people worldwide don't have regular access to any food all, including 36 million Americans.

We need to rediscover the value of food. Our legislators must realize that to reform our health system is not enough. If our leaders really want a challenge, let's reform our food system.

For 10 ways to change our food system, watch the movie Food, Inc. and visit their Web site.

Sheldon C. Good is the media assistant for Sojourners.

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by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 7:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.

by: JohnH54

11-27-2009 @ 9:59pm

Cheap food is the culprit. It's allowed people to eat bigger quantities. Part of the problem there, however, is govt subsidies.

So the govt that will now complain that you are too fat will now complain that you are costing too much to take care of.

by: duhsciple

11-28-2009 @ 11:51am

Is it not our personal responsibility to monitor what we eat? ;)

by: JohnH54

11-27-2009 @ 9:59pm

Cheap food is the culprit. It's allowed people to eat bigger quantities. Part of the problem there, however, is govt subsidies.

So the govt that will now complain that you are too fat will now complain that you are costing too much to take care of.

by: MacArthur4

11-28-2009 @ 5:33pm

"Is it not our personal responsibility"

Only if the government allows it . '0)

by: duhsciple

11-28-2009 @ 11:51am

Is it not our personal responsibility to monitor what we eat? ;)

by: MacArthur4

11-28-2009 @ 5:33pm

"Is it not our personal responsibility"

Only if the government allows it . '0)

by: dougjantzi

11-29-2009 @ 4:39pm

Excellent, Sheldon. I, too, noticed that no one seems to mention the contribution that our poor diet and sedentary lifestyle make toward rising healthcare costs. Keep up the good work!

by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 7:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.

by: John Mulholland

11-30-2009 @ 12:47pm

This was bound to come up. With the government providing health care, there will be diet controls. Do you really want to be told what you may or may not consume?

by: quaker

11-30-2009 @ 3:16pm

this is true. we decide what we eat. We do not need the government to us. which is what will happen if they have to foot the bill, I mean when they foot the bill through us. The bill they are passing is siad to cost over 5 trillion. thats insane. I am sure there is better ways to deal with our health care problem without costing us more money. if its private make it work better. If it used to work better then look how it was done. I see lots of ways to do this. our governement sees power and holding onto votes. this is immoral and this site shouldnt push the governement bill at all in any form they have so far concieved. they should be pushing them to do it in the way obama promised from the start. what the government has. Which is the same as what we all have but in a much better form. HOW HARD IS THAT.

by: dougjantzi

11-29-2009 @ 4:39pm

Excellent, Sheldon. I, too, noticed that no one seems to mention the contribution that our poor diet and sedentary lifestyle make toward rising healthcare costs. Keep up the good work!

by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 5:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.

by: John Mulholland

11-30-2009 @ 12:47pm

This was bound to come up. With the government providing health care, there will be diet controls. Do you really want to be told what you may or may not consume?

by: quaker

11-30-2009 @ 3:16pm

this is true. we decide what we eat. We do not need the government to us. which is what will happen if they have to foot the bill, I mean when they foot the bill through us. The bill they are passing is siad to cost over 5 trillion. thats insane. I am sure there is better ways to deal with our health care problem without costing us more money. if its private make it work better. If it used to work better then look how it was done. I see lots of ways to do this. our governement sees power and holding onto votes. this is immoral and this site shouldnt push the governement bill at all in any form they have so far concieved. they should be pushing them to do it in the way obama promised from the start. what the government has. Which is the same as what we all have but in a much better form. HOW HARD IS THAT.

by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 5:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.

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by: JohnH54

11-27-2009 @ 9:59pm

Cheap food is the culprit. It's allowed people to eat bigger quantities. Part of the problem there, however, is govt subsidies.

So the govt that will now complain that you are too fat will now complain that you are costing too much to take care of.

by: JohnH54

11-27-2009 @ 9:59pm

Cheap food is the culprit. It's allowed people to eat bigger quantities. Part of the problem there, however, is govt subsidies.

So the govt that will now complain that you are too fat will now complain that you are costing too much to take care of.

by: duhsciple

11-28-2009 @ 11:51am

Is it not our personal responsibility to monitor what we eat? ;)

by: duhsciple

11-28-2009 @ 11:51am

Is it not our personal responsibility to monitor what we eat? ;)

by: MacArthur4

11-28-2009 @ 5:33pm

"Is it not our personal responsibility"

Only if the government allows it . '0)

by: MacArthur4

11-28-2009 @ 5:33pm

"Is it not our personal responsibility"

Only if the government allows it . '0)

by: dougjantzi

11-29-2009 @ 4:39pm

Excellent, Sheldon. I, too, noticed that no one seems to mention the contribution that our poor diet and sedentary lifestyle make toward rising healthcare costs. Keep up the good work!

by: dougjantzi

11-29-2009 @ 4:39pm

Excellent, Sheldon. I, too, noticed that no one seems to mention the contribution that our poor diet and sedentary lifestyle make toward rising healthcare costs. Keep up the good work!

by: John Mulholland

11-30-2009 @ 12:47pm

This was bound to come up. With the government providing health care, there will be diet controls. Do you really want to be told what you may or may not consume?

by: John Mulholland

11-30-2009 @ 12:47pm

This was bound to come up. With the government providing health care, there will be diet controls. Do you really want to be told what you may or may not consume?

by: quaker

11-30-2009 @ 3:16pm

this is true. we decide what we eat. We do not need the government to us. which is what will happen if they have to foot the bill, I mean when they foot the bill through us. The bill they are passing is siad to cost over 5 trillion. thats insane. I am sure there is better ways to deal with our health care problem without costing us more money. if its private make it work better. If it used to work better then look how it was done. I see lots of ways to do this. our governement sees power and holding onto votes. this is immoral and this site shouldnt push the governement bill at all in any form they have so far concieved. they should be pushing them to do it in the way obama promised from the start. what the government has. Which is the same as what we all have but in a much better form. HOW HARD IS THAT.

by: quaker

11-30-2009 @ 3:16pm

this is true. we decide what we eat. We do not need the government to us. which is what will happen if they have to foot the bill, I mean when they foot the bill through us. The bill they are passing is siad to cost over 5 trillion. thats insane. I am sure there is better ways to deal with our health care problem without costing us more money. if its private make it work better. If it used to work better then look how it was done. I see lots of ways to do this. our governement sees power and holding onto votes. this is immoral and this site shouldnt push the governement bill at all in any form they have so far concieved. they should be pushing them to do it in the way obama promised from the start. what the government has. Which is the same as what we all have but in a much better form. HOW HARD IS THAT.

by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 5:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.

by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 5:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.

by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 7:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.

by: xfree9

11-30-2009 @ 7:22pm

The past few months I've though deeply about the food my family eats. We live in an area where fresh produce is abundant and available relatively cheap from the Amish communities around us. I also grew up with a garden, and my mom canned food.

There's a cheap food store around us, and much of the food that is incredibly cheap is really unhealthy. For 99 cents you can get a small package of chicken nuggets, ketchup, and Nerds! Crazy unhealthy and non-nutritious. I feel sorry for those who actually purchase it. It breaks my heart that some people can't afford other things, but can afford this. And it breaks my heart that some people don't think twice about such choices. Then again, I make horrible food choices myself.

But then I realized that in a nation of abundance, where we have plenty of food, even though there is an abundance of really bad and unhealthy food, unhealthy and non-nutritious food is way better than starving to death. It may be "bad for us," but at a life expectancy of 78 years, as opposed to say, infant mortality or children dying from lack of good food, I'd say dying of cancer at age 40 because of bad food is a much better alternative.

Not to say we shouldn't make it better... and I really hope our food industry can evolve into a healthier industry than it is. But I think it's important to compare the alternative to the "bad abundance" that capitalism has given us.