02
The Metabolic Health Imperative
Scale, Risk, and Opportunity
Metabolic dysfunction, driven by insulin resistance, contributes to the vast majority of non-communicable diseases and plays a major role in disability. In developed nations, these conditions account for over 90% of deaths, with metabolic risk often present years before formal diagnosis.
93% of US adults show evidence of insulin resistance
72% are overweight or obese
Swiss Re’s internal analysis reflects this global challenge. One in five long-term UK disability claims is primarily driven by obesity and related metabolic conditions. Many claimants recorded with a single cause of claim are, in reality, living with multimorbidity rooted in undiagnosed or unmanaged metabolic dysfunction.
53% have diabetes or pre-diabetes
Despite this, evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies targeting the root cause of metabolic dysfunction, have been largely absent from life and health propositions. Unfortunately, modern clinical medicine also often doesn't consider the root cause, particularly when lifestyle change is required – but rather "manages" chronic conditions by attempting to control downstream risk factors caused by insulin resistance.
There’s a growing body of evidence showing that when people receive the right support — especially lifestyle and behaviour change with nutrition at the centre, focussed on carbohydrate reduction — it can lead to real, lasting improvements in health. Encouragingly, we're now seeing more studies suggesting that lifestyle-first approaches can outperform medication-led strategies like GLP-1s when it comes to weight loss and long-term sustainability. And they come without the side effects or dependency and weight re-gain risks that often accompany drug-based treatments. We're keen to support healthier behaviours alongside these medicines.
This disconnect between risk, evidence, and action represents a clear opportunity for insurers to rethink how metabolic health is assessed, managed, and improved.