Throughout the past 50 years, food has become more accessible than ever. Yet, Americans are experiencing the worst health outcomes of any high-income nation.

The pervasiveness of food deserts, the prevalence of junk food and a lack of nutritional education have led to mass obesity, which spurs the chronic disease epidemic, claiming 1.7 million lives annually — or seven of every 10 U.S. deaths. That’s more than three and a half times the number of tobacco-related deaths yearly. In the same way that previous generations fought the battle against smoking, Americans must prioritize winning the fight against obesity and chronic disease.