ABSTRACT
This chapter examines United States (US) food consumption trends, rates of diet-related chronic diseases, the contribution of biodiversity to dietary diversity, and examples of unintended human health consequences of the industrialized food system. Food consumption trends at the population and individual levels change over time. The Healthy Eating Index is a measure of average diet quality and adequacy in the US and the extent to which Americans conform to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Noncommunicable diseases, or chronic diseases, exist for extended periods of time and are often the result of behavioral, environmental, physiological, or genetic factors. Mortality and the morbidities associated with chronic diseases could be substantially reduced with preventive measures. The cost of diet-related chronic disease and unhealthy behaviors account for most healthcare costs in the US The industrialized food system in the US produces a high volume of food for human and animal consumption.
