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COMMUNITY OP-ED NOVEMBER 24, 2023 | The Indian Eye 14

New York City is now helping

New Yorkers live longer

Much of the problem lies in the fact that oftentimes, only higher-income neighborhoods have access to healthy food and
the Whole Foods of the world, while our low-income neighborhoods are left with junk food options. Eighty percent of
health care dollars in America go toward treating diet-related chronic diseases that these kinds of foods fuel

ERIC ADAMS

hen we came into office, we
promised that we would
Wensure that our prosperity
would be felt across the five boroughs.
And the health of our people is key to
that prosperity.
But despite coming out of a once-
in-a-century pandemic, life expectan- HealthyNYC sets clear goals to reduce the greatest drivers of premature death, including chronic and diet-related diseases, overdose, suicide,
cy in this city has not fully recovered. maternal mortality, violence, and COVID-19 (File photo)
Between 2019 and 2020, overall life
expectancy in New York City fell to 78
years. So, it is time we gave New York- en of those years. But she changed doula initiative. munities of color and LGBTQIA+
ers some extra life. her diet and her lifestyle, and she was We also know that unhealthy youth, as well as address the impact of
That is why we recently launched able to live until she was 83. I believe foods — fast food, processed foods, social media on youth mental health
HealthyNYC, our ambitious plan to if we had caught the chronic diseases and sugary drinks — contribute to and suicidal ideation to reduce sui-
extend and improve the lifespan of she was facing earlier, she would have chronic diseases. Much of the prob- cide deaths.
all New Yorkers to 83 years by 2030. been with us even longer. lem lies in the fact that oftentimes, Additionally, we are going to take
HealthyNYC sets clear goals to reduce Many New Yorkers have someone only higher-income neighborhoods on the overdose crisis in our city. New
the greatest drivers of premature death, in their life impacted by a chronic dis- have access to healthy food and the York City has lost too many people
including chronic and diet-related ease, by addiction, by cancer. They wor- Whole Foods of the world, while our to overdoses. Too many families and
diseases, overdose, suicide, maternal ry about the next examination, the next low-income neighborhoods are left communities have faced the pain and
mortality, violence, and COVID-19. injection. New Yorkers shouldn’t face with junk food options. Eighty per- heartache of seeing a loved one go
Pill boxes, injections, and doctor’s anxiety and worry about their health cent of health care dollars in America through addiction. So, we are going
appointments should not define the and the health of their families. With go toward treating diet-related chron- to increase access to proven harm-re-
lives of New Yorkers — we can and we HealthyNYC, we are going to refocus ic diseases that these kinds of foods duction and treatment and recovery
must invest in helping all New York- our public health work around the fuel. We don’t want to keep feeding centers to reduce overdose deaths.
ers enjoy healthier, quality lives. This goal of helping people live longer lives. this crisis, so we are going to increase Increasing life expectancy across
is personal to me. I have seen up close And we are going to do that by access to healthy foods and promote our city is an all-hands-on deck mo-
how chronic disease can hijack your addressing health inequities in our plant-forward diets to reduce chronic ment because every New Yorker de-
life. Many New Yorkers know my per- Black and Brown communities. This and diet-related disease deaths. serves a healthier, longer life. With
sonal story, but they don’t know my includes increasing access to quality Through HealthyNYC, we are HealthyNYC, we are going to build a
mother’s story. Dorothy Adams was health care to reduce pregnancy-asso- also going to expand access to mental healthier, more prosperous city for all.
a diabetic for 15 years, and I watched ciated mortality among Black women, health care and social support services, Eric Adams is
her inject herself with insulin for sev- through programs like our citywide including early intervention for com- the Mayor of New York City, NY

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