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  4. What Is the FDA Doing to Reduce the Diabetes and Obesity Epidemics in America and Take on the Greed of the Food and Beverage Industry? - 12/05/2024
  1. Congressional Testimony

Testimony | In Person

Event Title
What Is the FDA Doing to Reduce the Diabetes and Obesity Epidemics in America and Take on the Greed of the Food and Beverage Industry?
December 5, 2024

Testimony of
Robert M. Califf, M.D., MACC

Jim Jones
Deputy Commissioner for Human Foods - Food and Drug Administration

Introduction

Chair Sanders, Ranking Member Cassidy, and members of the Committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify before you today to discuss efforts to reduce the chronic disease burden in America and the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA or the Agency) front-of-package nutrition labeling initiative. 

This is an important time to testify before this Committee on a growing and vitally urgent issue facing Americans: chronic disease, including diet-related chronic disease. The food we eat is exacerbating America’s tragic title for the lowest life expectancy among large high-income countries.  1

Chronic diseases, including heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are the leading cause of disability and death in America. They are also the leading drivers of the nation’s $4.5 trillion in annual health care costs. Nearly everyone knows and cares for someone with a chronic disease: 6 in 10 Americans have at least one chronic disease and 4 in 10 have two or more chronic diseases.  Unfortunately, the toll of diet-related chronic diseases is even greater for racial and ethnic minority groups, those with lower socioeconomic status, and those living in rural areas. The burden of diet-related chronic diseases translates into astronomical health care and economic costs as well. 

Click for full version of testimony

  • 1 “How does U.S. life expectancy compare to other countries?” Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker, https://www.healthsystemtracker.org/chart-collection/u-s-life-expectancy-compare-countries/
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