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  1. The a16z Show
  2. Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem
Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show · Feb 4, 2026

America's health crisis is an environmental and incentive problem, not a healthcare failure. The solution is to make prevention profitable.

Health Is an Output of Environment, Not Willpower; Modern Society Is Structurally Unhealthy

Our ancestors were healthy by default because their environment promoted it. Today, the default environment—filled with processed foods, sedentary lifestyles, and novel chemicals—systematically produces unhealthy people, making good health an uphill battle of individual effort against the system.

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Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

America's Chronic Disease Crisis Demands a National Security-Level Response

The scale of America's health crisis—with over 75% of adults overweight or obese—is equivalent to a successful bioweapon attack by an adversary. This framing suggests the problem requires the urgency and resource mobilization of a national security threat, not just a healthcare policy discussion.

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Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

Universal Ozempic Is a Flawed Solution; It Reduces Calories but Risks Nutrient Deficiencies

While GLP-1 drugs can jumpstart weight loss by reducing appetite, they don't address poor food quality. If users simply eat less ultra-processed food, they risk severe protein and micronutrient deficiencies, leading to different long-term health consequences.

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem thumbnail

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

TrueMed Reframes Prevention as Treatment by Enabling HSA/FSA Spending on Lifestyle

TrueMed's model allows consumers to use tax-free HSA/FSA funds for preventative health measures like gym memberships and healthy food. By facilitating a "letter of medical necessity," it effectively reclassifies these lifestyle interventions as legitimate medical expenses, creating a financial incentive for prevention.

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem thumbnail

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

Mental Health Disorders Like Depression May Be Metabolic Issues, Not Psychological Ones

The emerging field of "metabolic psychiatry" suggests many mental health conditions are rooted in physical, metabolic dysfunction. Interventions focused on reducing inflammation, improving gut health, and specific diets (e.g., ketogenic for epilepsy) can be more effective than traditional psychological treatments.

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem thumbnail

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

U.S. Crop Subsidies Create Artificially Cheap, Unhealthy Ingredients Driving Chronic Disease

Government subsidies for corn, soy, and wheat make these crops artificially cheap. Food manufacturers then overuse them in processed forms like high-fructose corn syrup and soybean oil, which have become staples in the American diet and are a root cause of chronic disease.

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Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

The U.S. 'GRAS' Policy Allows Companies to Self-Approve Chemicals Banned in Europe

Unlike the EU's strict approval process for new chemicals, the U.S. allows companies to self-declare novel compounds as "Generally Recognized as Safe" (GRAS). This has resulted in tens of thousands of chemicals in the U.S. food system that are not permitted in the EU, contributing to the chronic disease crisis.

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Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

America's Health Crisis Began in the 1970s When Food Companies Prioritized Shareholder Value

The 1970s marked a shift where major food corporations, driven by market pressure, began systematically replacing natural ingredients with cheaper, ultra-processed substitutes. This move, aimed at boosting earnings per share, created the foundation for today's 'poisonous' food system and rising chronic disease.

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Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago

Unpatentable Peptides Threaten Pharma's 'Don't Die' Business Model with 'Human Enhancement'

Peptides represent a disruptive class of compounds that focus on enhancement (more energy, better gut health) rather than disease management (e.g., statins). Because they are often unpatentable and cheap, they challenge the existing pharmaceutical industry's business model, which is built on patented drugs for chronic conditions.

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem thumbnail

Why America’s Health Crisis Is an Incentive Problem

The a16z Show·15 days ago