Nona Evans

Hungry and Obese: Food and America's Well-Being

Michiel Bakker, Laurie David, Robert Egger, Nona Evans, Kelly Chapman Meyer, Lawrence Soler, Jane Wells, Skip Reimer, Michael Gerson, Kelly Meyer, Larry Soler, Carol Kretschman

A diverse panel of industry leaders from organizations including Google, the Whole Kids Foundation, and the Partnership for a Healthier America convened to address the systemic drivers of the American obesity epidemic, which currently affects one in three children and costs the economy approximately $1 trillion annually. Participants detailed strategic solutions ranging from Google's focus on teaching cooking skills and LA Kitchen's employment of marginalized populations to process "ugly" produce, alongside efforts to reshape marketing norms and implement corporate accountability through public-private partnerships. By leveraging demographic shifts among younger generations and the political influence of aging Baby Boomers, these stakeholders aim to transition the cultural narrative from fear-based messaging to sustainable lifestyle changes that integrate healthy food into schools, workplaces, and underserved communities.