Obesity costs America more in healthcare spending than

smoking.

Healthier Foods

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ProduceSupport Sustainable Seafood ◊ Visit a Farmers’ Market Go Meat-Free for a Meal ◊ Grow Your Own

Veggies

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The current food production system in the US has significant impacts on health. As obesity rates across the country continue to rise, so too do occurrences of obesity-related diseases and their associated medical care costs – estimated to be over $190 billion annually in 2012.

Nutrition. Studies have shown that high-sugar and -fat foods comprise almost 30% of all calories consumed by Americans. Research suggests that consumption of these unhealthy foods is a major contributor to chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and stroke.

Antibiotic Resistance. The use of antibiotics as a way to increase the weight of livestock has become standard practice on poultry, swine, beef and fish farms across America. A growing body of research links the unnecessary use of these antibiotics in animals to antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria and potential for reduced effectiveness of antibiotics in the treatment of humans.

Chemical Exposure. The more food is processed and the farther it travels to reach your table, the higher the likelihood of contamination from packaging that contains chemicals of concern. Widespread pesticide use also exposes farm workers, communities and animals to chemicals that have been linked to cancer and a variety of other neurological, reproductive and behavioral effects.

Pollution. Air pollution from pesticides, field dust, farm machinery, waste handling and degrading manure can lead to asthma, cardiovascular disease, lung cancer and other respiratory illnesses, particularly for people who live or work near farms. Agriculture is also one of the leading causes of water pollution in the US. As lakes, rivers, reservoirs and groundwater becomes increasingly polluted, so too do the fish and shellfish we consume from those waters.

“Healthier Foods” Resources

Information• http://www.forbes.com/sites/rickungar/2012/04/30/obesity-now-co

sts-americans-more-in-healthcare-costs-than-smoking/

• Inova “Sustainable Foods, Healthy Lives” Cookbook

Photos• http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/claudiodivizia/claudiodivizia0

907/claudiodivizia090700210/5183559-food-collage-including-pictures-of-vegetables-fruit-pasta-and-more.jpg

• http://blog.mlive.com/chronicle/2008/01/large_cowsMlive.jpg• http://bhoulgrave.files.wordpress.com/2010/08/cropdusting5_bsh.j

pg• http://www.chicagomag.com/images/2009/January%202009/C0109

_JunkFood_01.jpg

Questions? Comments? Email gogreen@inova.org.