The Case for Investing in Cardiometabolic Health

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., costing $252.2 billion in healthcare services, medications, and lost productivity.¹ By 2050, annual health care costs are projected to triple for cardiovascular conditions, while productivity losses are projected to increase by 54%.² The economic burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is just as staggering – ranging from an average of $3,060 at early stages to over $50,000 annually for those on dialysis treatment.³

As payers look for solutions to prevent and better manage costly chronic diseases like heart disease and CKD, understanding and supporting members’ cardiometabolic health is critical. This includes providing effective weight management support and obesity care, as obesity is strongly associated with cardiometabolic disorders.

Cardiometabolic Health: Why It Matters

According to a 2022 study, fewer than 1 out of 14 American adults have optimal cardiometabolic health – putting the majority of Americans on a dangerous track towards disease.⁴ Excess weight is one of the biggest culprits in driving poor metabolic health, and it increases the chances that obesity and other cardiometabolic risk factors will develop, such as:^5,6

High blood pressure
High blood sugar levels
High levels of triglycerides in the blood
Low levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol in the blood
Poor diet

Not only can poor cardiometabolic health lead to heart disease, but it is also a key driver in the development of other cardiometabolic diseases such as stroke, diabetes, insulin resistance, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and chronic kidney disease.^7,8 What’s more? Having one of these conditions greatly increases one’s chance of getting another.⁹

With the majority of the U.S. population living with poor cardiometabolic health, the prevalence and cost of heart disease and other related conditions will continue to rise.

The High Cost of Poor Cardiometabolic Health

Annual direct medical costs associated with cardiovascular diseases alone are projected to rise to more than $818 billion by 2030.¹⁰ As a whole, $1.1 trillion in healthcare costs are attributed to chronic conditions – including cardiometabolic diseases.¹¹

The numbers are clear – without the right interventions to improve cardiometabolic health, chronic disease and the high costs associated with these conditions will continue to plague health plans and their populations.

“Cardiometabolic health is the foundation of long-term well-being and cost-effective healthcare. By addressing the interconnected factors driving obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, organizations can prevent costly chronic conditions before they escalate, “ says Robyn Racheotes, Vice President of Payers and Providers at Noom. “Investing in comprehensive cardiometabolic solutions isn’t just about better health outcomes — it’s about driving sustainable cost savings.”

Take Action with Complete Cardiometabolic Solutions Driven by Behavior Change

While disease management solutions can help people better manage their chronic conditions and control costs, payers must also prioritize prevention to mitigate risk factors, improve outcomes, and drive costs down long-term.

Health plans can focus on prevention by helping their populations develop healthier, sustainable habits and lifestyles. The key to this is empowering long-term behavior change through comprehensive cardiometabolic solutions that support your whole population.

Noom Health: A Single Destination for Cardiometabolic Care

Noom Health offers support for every stage of cardiometabolic health. From weight management and diabetes prevention to diabetes and obesity care, Noom’s tailored programs combine coaching, clinical care, data-driven insights, and psychological tools to empower people to take control of their health and reduce long-term risks associated with cardiometabolic disease.

Noom uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help members understand the psychological drivers behind their habits. By addressing root causes, our programs provide tools to shift mindsets, break patterns, and build lasting healthy behaviors.

When payers look at cardiometabolic health holistically and implement tools and resources to help their populations make long-term lifestyle changes that positively impact their health, they can keep high-risk conditions such as obesity and diabetes from becoming high-cost diseases, and prevent the onset of these diseases in the first place.