Nutrition4MetabolicHealth: Why a leading reinsurer is betting on prevention

Non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity are among the fastest-growing health challenges facing societies worldwide. Yet evidence indicates that many of these conditions are largely preventable.

At Swiss Food & Nutrition Valley’s General Assembly, Dr John Schoonbee, Global Chief Medical Officer at Swiss Re, joined CEO Christina Senn-Jakobsen on stage to discuss why a global reinsurance company is partnering with the Valley to launch Nutrition4MetabolicHealth, a new initiative focused on prevention, awareness and cross-sector collaboration.

In this interview, John explains why nutrition has become a strategic priority for Swiss Re, why Switzerland is uniquely positioned to lead in this space, and what it will take to make healthier choices easier for everyone.

Why is a reinsurance company interested in nutrition and metabolic health?

John Schoonbee: At first glance, it might seem like an unusual connection. But from our perspective, the link is very direct. As a reinsurer, we are exposed to the long-term consequences of poor health through life insurance, disability insurance and chronic disease trends. We see first-hand the impact that diabetes, obesity and other metabolic conditions have on individuals, families, businesses and healthcare systems.

For many years, healthcare has focused primarily on treating chronic disease after it occurs. Treatment is important, but we also need to focus on prevention. Nutrition is one of the most powerful levers we have to improve health outcomes before people become ill. It can help to improve or even reverse many chronic conditions where the root cause is insulin resistance. Quite simply, food is health.

What concerns you most about the current trajectory?

John Schoonbee: The data tells a worrying story. Across the world, rates of obesity, diabetes and metabolic dysfunction continue to rise. In Switzerland, healthcare expenditure has now exceeded CHF 100 billion per year, with the majority of these costs linked to non-communicable diseases.

What is often overlooked is that metabolic health affects far more than weight or diabetes. Metabolic dysfunction is linked to cardiovascular disease, fatty liver disease, many cancers, cognitive decline and even mental health outcomes. If current trends continue, we risk creating a future where people live longer but spend more years living with chronic illness. That has consequences not only for healthcare systems, but also for quality of life, workforce productivity and economic resilience.

Why do you believe nutrition deserves greater attention?

John Schoonbee: Because it is one of the few interventions that touches almost everyone, every day. We make decisions about food multiple times a day, throughout our lives. Those decisions accumulate over decades and have a profound impact on long-term health.

The challenge is not simply telling people what they should eat. We need to create environments, systems and incentives that make healthier choices easier and more accessible. This is why nutrition cannot be viewed solely as a healthcare issue. It is also a food industry issue, an education issue, a policy issue and a societal issue.

Why launch this initiative in Switzerland?

John Schoonbee: Switzerland has something many countries lack: a highly connected ecosystem. We have world-class research institutions, innovative startups, global food companies, healthcare organisations, insurers and policymakers all operating within a relatively small geography. That creates a unique opportunity to bring together different perspectives and test new approaches more quickly than would be possible elsewhere.

Switzerland is also a trusted global brand. If we can demonstrate successful models for prevention and nutrition-driven health here, those lessons have the potential to influence discussions and fix metabolic health far beyond our borders.

What do you hope the Nutrition4MetabolicHealth initiative will achieve?

John Schoonbee: Our ambition is to create momentum around prevention and metabolic health. Over the next three years, we want to bring together stakeholders from across food, health, science, insurance and policy to explore practical solutions and develop real-world pilot projects.

We don’t want to just create another platform for discussion. We want to test ideas, learn from the evidence and identify approaches that can make a measurable difference to people’s lives. Ultimately, success would mean helping more people live healthier, longer lives while reducing the burden of preventable disease on society.

What gives you hope for the future?

John Schoonbee: The fact that so many different organisations are recognising that they cannot solve these challenges alone. Improving metabolic health requires collaboration across sectors that do not traditionally work together.

The encouraging thing is that we are seeing growing interest from food companies, startups, researchers, healthcare providers, insurers and policymakers alike. When diverse stakeholders come together around a shared challenge, new possibilities emerge. That is exactly what Nutrition4MetabolicHealth aims to achieve.

Find out more on the Nutrition4MetabolicHealth landing page or request an invite to the Nutrition4Metabolic Health Summit

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