As many of you know, one of the major reasons why Americans are facing financial distress today is due to rising healthcare costs. What’s even more concerning is how healthcare in the United States is designed to profit from chronic disease, rather than promoting prevention or better outcomes. We often hear about how the healthcare system is “broken,” but the truth is it’s not broken—it’s rigged.
We all know the statistics: Americans spend more on healthcare than any other country, yet we are one of the sickest nations in the world. Chronic diseases, like heart disease, cancer, and diabetes, are taking more lives each year than wars or pandemics ever have. And at the root of this issue lies a system that benefits from keeping us sick.
The Broken Healthcare System and Its Impact on You
As one expert put it, “When you show me the incentives, I’ll show you the outcomes.” Healthcare in America is profit-driven. It thrives on chronic conditions that require ongoing treatment and medication. Pharmaceutical companies and insurance companies are profiting from our sickness, rather than focusing on prevention or helping us stay healthy long-term.
More people die annually from chronic disease than from any other health crisis, including cancer and heart disease. We spend more on healthcare than any other country, yet we’re one of the fattest, sickest, and most chronically ill societies in the history of the world. It’s a broken system where the incentives are all wrong.
This is a problem that affects us all. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the endless prescription cycles, endless doctor’s visits, and the feeling that your health is only treated once a crisis hits, you’re not alone.
Taking Control: Why You Need to Focus on Prevention
The system we live in encourages sickness to be treated, not prevented. Many of us are given medications for issues like diabetes, hypertension, or obesity without being encouraged to make the lifestyle changes needed to address the root cause of those problems. We’re chronically ill because of our diets, lifestyles, and lack of preventative measures.
“Chronic disease doesn’t see your political leanings,” and “This is a Humanity versus corruption issue,” and it’s time for us to take control of our own health. Preventing these diseases before they start is key—and that’s something you can control today.
So, what can we do?
1. Focus on Metabolic Health
Metabolic disease is the root cause of many chronic illnesses. By improving metabolic health, we can lower the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and even cancer. “We incentivize metabolic health to fix the root cause of all these chronic diseases.” When you start focusing on improving your diet and exercise, you’re directly fighting back against these major diseases.
2. Start with Nutrition
A major factor in metabolic health is nutrition. Processed foods, sugar, and chemicals in our food are doing more harm than we realize. “In the U.S., we have 10,000 approved ingredients in our food, many of which are banned in Europe.” Many of us don’t even realize the impact our diet has on our health because it’s not always immediate. But over time, these chemicals, additives, and poor nutritional choices accumulate, leading to chronic disease.
What can you do about it? Start by focusing on real, whole foods. Avoid highly processed snacks, refined sugars, and artificial ingredients. Build meals around lean proteins, healthy fats, and nutrient-dense vegetables.
3. Get Active and Stay Active
Another key point to consider is how chronic illness has led to a society where many are just inactive. “We have some lazy people, yes, but are we lazy because we are sick or sick because we are lazy?” The reality is that inactivity exacerbates chronic diseases. To combat this, exercise is essential. Whether it’s weight training, cardio, or functional fitness, the benefits of staying active are clear. It improves metabolic health, helps prevent heart disease, and boosts mental health.
Here’s your action step: Continue coming to the gym consistently. You’re already ahead of the game by focusing on your fitness. The next step is to ensure that your training program targets the improvement of your metabolic health—working on strength, endurance, and functional movement.
4. Utilize Technology to Track Your Progress
The future of healthcare is moving towards real-time, data-driven decision making. The more information you have about your health, the better decisions you can make. Many companies are now using wearables to track heart rate, sleep quality, and even glucose levels. These small, yet significant steps can help you track how your body is responding to changes in diet and exercise.
At WOTOWN, we’re encouraging members to take a more holistic approach to fitness by tracking your progress with consistency. This includes using tools like heart rate monitors and focusing on key metrics such as sleep, stress, and recovery. By tracking your metrics, you’ll be able to understand how your habits are affecting your body in real time.
Next Steps for You
• Keep showing up for your workouts. Consistent exercise is one of the best things you can do for your metabolic health.
• Focus on your diet. Avoid processed foods and focus on whole, nutrient-dense meals.
• Track your progress. Use the tools available to you, like fitness trackers, to monitor your health improvements.
• Don’t wait for a crisis. Prevent chronic diseases by taking control now with proactive lifestyle choices.
Your health is too important to leave in the hands of a broken system. You have the power to change your own life through fitness and nutrition.
Remember, “We’ve got one body and 200 trillion to one are the chances we’re alive right now. This is our one shot.” Let’s make it count.