38% of teens between 12 and 19 years old are prediabetic.
Let that sink in for a moment…
When I graduated from medical school, prediabetes in teenagers was virtually nonexistent. Today, it’s a glaring symptom of a broken food system and the devastating impact of poor nutrition.
The recently released 2025 Dietary Guidelines Report highlights how ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and nutrient-poor diets are driving this crisis.
These foods hijack our biology, disrupting hunger signals, increasing fat storage, and fueling chronic inflammation—key factors behind skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
But the problem goes beyond individual choices.
Socioeconomic disparities limit access to healthy food, while aggressive marketing of sugary and processed foods targets the most vulnerable—our children.
Here’s the good news: We know what works.
The evidence is clear—nutrient-dense, whole foods can transform health. Diets higher in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and high quality meats are consistently linked to better health outcomes, from reducing cardiovascular risk to preventing type 2 diabetes and supporting cognitive health as we age.
It’s time to rethink how we eat—and how we support equitable access to nutritious food for everyone.
Mark Hyman, MD
73% of U.S. adults are overweight or obese.
38% of teens between 12 and 19 years old are prediabetic.
Let that sink in for a moment…
When I graduated from medical school, prediabetes in teenagers was virtually nonexistent. Today, it’s a glaring symptom of a broken food system and the devastating impact of poor nutrition.
The recently released 2025 Dietary Guidelines Report highlights how ultra-processed foods, sugar-sweetened beverages, and nutrient-poor diets are driving this crisis.
These foods hijack our biology, disrupting hunger signals, increasing fat storage, and fueling chronic inflammation—key factors behind skyrocketing rates of obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease.
But the problem goes beyond individual choices.
Socioeconomic disparities limit access to healthy food, while aggressive marketing of sugary and processed foods targets the most vulnerable—our children.
Here’s the good news: We know what works.
The evidence is clear—nutrient-dense, whole foods can transform health. Diets higher in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, legumes, and high quality meats are consistently linked to better health outcomes, from reducing cardiovascular risk to preventing type 2 diabetes and supporting cognitive health as we age.
It’s time to rethink how we eat—and how we support equitable access to nutritious food for everyone.
2 months ago | [YT] | 1,947