People today are living longer, but not necessarily healthier lives.
According to a new report by the World Economic Forum and Accenture, while global life expectancy continues to rise, healthy life expectancy is on the decline. The culprit? Poor nutrition fueled by an overdependence on ultra-processed foods (UPFs).

The Transforming the Global Food System for Human Health and Resilience report argues that the modern diet—engineered for convenience, not well-being—is failing both people and the planet. Without urgent reform, the global community is on course for continued increases in preventable disease, early mortality, and environmental degradation.

A Growing Healthspan-Lifespan Gap

In 2024, the average person can expect to live to 73—up significantly from 46 in 1950. Yet chronic illness, obesity, and mental health disorders linked to poor diets are rising sharply. A recent Lancet study found that obesity among adults has doubled since 1990, while childhood obesity has quadrupled. In 2022 alone, one in eight people worldwide were classified as obese.

The report also highlights that UPFs—defined as foods with more than five synthetic ingredients—have been connected to 32 negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and type 2 diabetes, even when sugar, salt, and fat content are controlled.

The cost of these outcomes is staggering. Poor nutrition now carries a global economic burden of nearly $20 trillion—more than double the direct cost of food consumption.

The Food System Is Failing the Planet, Too

Beyond health, the report underscores the environmental toll of modern agriculture. Food production accounts for roughly one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to declining soil fertility and biodiversity loss.

In short, the current system—optimized for mass production and shelf-life—is misaligned with the demands of a healthier, more sustainable future.

Four Strategies to Shift Diets and Mindsets

The report outlines four key interventions to help realign consumer behavior and industry priorities:

1. Redesign Retail Spaces
Retailers and food producers are reimagining store layouts to promote healthy and sustainable choices. A University of Southampton study found that placing fruits and vegetables at store entrances led to an additional 10,000 servings of produce sold weekly—while purchases of junk food dropped by 1,500 servings.

Technologies like in-store nutrition apps and on-site dietitians are also helping customers make smarter choices, boosting both public health and brand loyalty.

2. Subsidize the Good, Tax the Harmful
Governments can encourage healthier consumption by subsidizing nutrient-dense, biodiverse crops and taxing producers of unhealthy goods—similar to existing models for alcohol and tobacco. One notable example: the Navajo Nation implemented a 2% tax on junk food in 2014, redirecting the funds to local health initiatives.

3. Mandate Transparent Food Labelling
Stronger labeling standards that clearly display sugar, fat, salt content—and sustainability metrics—can better inform consumers. Emerging technologies such as QR codes and blockchain can improve ingredient traceability and accountability across the supply chain.

4. Make Healthy the Default
From gas stations to fast-casual chains, small retailers have the power to normalize healthy eating. By designing menus and products that are as enticing as their ultra-processed counterparts—think “viral” healthy options instead of Unicorn Lattes—retailers can shift cultural food norms.

A Call for Global Collaboration

Ultimately, transforming the global food system will require a coordinated effort among governments, investors, retailers, healthcare providers, and educators. The World Economic Forum’s New Frontiers of Nutrition initiative, developed in partnership with Accenture, aims to mobilize stakeholders across sectors to prioritize health and nutrition in policymaking and innovation.

“Changing deeply ingrained food habits won’t happen overnight,” the report states. “But building a food system that rewards healthy choices—and empowers people to make them—is the first step toward a more resilient, equitable future.”

By Staff Writer, Courtesy of Forbes | March 4, 2024 | Edited for WTFwire.com
Source: World Economic Forum