According to a 2020 study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 44 percent of Americans, or 145.8 million people, used at least one prescription drug in the past month a number that has been increasing steadily over the past few decades.
Democratic health advocate Lisa McCormick is calling on federal lawmakers to help make improvements in the environment and food supply to make Americans more healthy.
“The food we eat has a profound impact on our health,” said McCormick. “What we eat can either make us healthy or sick. In recent years, there has been a growing concern about the quality of our food supply. Many Americans are now suffering from obesity and malnutrition at the same time.”
The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), a national survey of health and nutrition in the United States, reported that the percentage of people Americans who are obese increased from 30.5% to 41.9%, while the prevalence of severe obesity increased from 4.7% to 9.2%.
McCormick said among the main culprits behind this problem are McDonald’s and other fast food chains. These companies have been polluting our food supply with unhealthy ingredients, such as processed meats, high-fructose corn syrup, and artificial additives. These ingredients have been linked to a number of health problems, including obesity, heart disease, and cancer.
In addition to fast food, big agricultural corporations are also contributing to the problem. These corporations use intensive farming practices that pollute our water supply and soil with pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. These chemicals can also make their way into our food supply, harming our health.
“The sugar content of a typical diet is outrageous and the consequences of mass processing are a society that is both obese and malnourished,” said McCormick. “As we discover that fossil fuel emissions have wrecked the global temperature exchanges, forever chemicals are in virtually all our water supplies and ubiquitous plastic pollution is manifested in our brains as well as marine animals and birds, it is clear that humans are destroying humanity.”
“We need to take action to clean up our food supply and protect our health. We can start by making healthier choices about the food we eat,” said McCormick. “We should also support policies that promote sustainable agriculture and food production. By working together, we can create a healthier food system for ourselves and future generations.”
It is time to stop poisoning our planet, says McCormick, who has proposed a number of remedies for the growing threats posed by irresponsible technology and industry.
McCormick said fewer Americans would need medication if they simply had a safe environment and healthy food supply.
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