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THE GLOBAL RELEVANCE

OF WELLNESS

Fabiano Zettel, founder and CEO of Moriah Asset

IN A WORLD WHERE 733 MILLION PEOPLE GO HUNGRY, ACCORDING TO THE UN, AND WHERE GLOBAL
WARMING LEADS TO DEVASTATING CLIMATE EVENTS, TO SPEAK ABOUT HEALTH AND WELL-BEING
MIGHT SEEM SECONDARY OR EVEN ELITIST.

We live a paradox. While a significant portion of The UN has declared the 2020s the Decade of
the global population has nothing to eat, those Healthy Ageing – and with good reason. Promoting
who do are falling ill and aging poorly. Deaths from wellness could raise global GDP by 0.4% per year,
heart conditions have never been so frequent. according to the IMF. Keeping skilled professionals
Physical inactivity weakens social security systems. active for longer, alongside training older and
Obesity has become an epidemic, overburdening healthier people to manage new technologies,
healthcare systems already strained by the rising could expand the labour force and reduce strain
costs of the pharmaceutical industry. on pension systems.

The repercussions go far beyond the individual Wellness companies are playing their part. New
level, impacting what can be called “social products are being launched daily to meet the
health,” with consequences for the economy, needs of a market worth USD 6.3 trillion, growing
public spending and social inclusion. When at 5.9% annually, according to GWI. These range
the population is healthier and lives longer, from low-sugar, functional foods and alcohol-free
governments can save on healthcare and drinks to clothing, sleep improvement apps, dietary
pensions, freeing up resources to combat hunger. supplements and gyms.

A recent study published by Nature Medicine While it’s true that many of these companies
analyzed data from 492,000 people and concluded still serve mainly higher-income consumers,
that environmental factors – such as physical they are also increasingly reaching vulnerable
activity, sleep and diet – have a greater influence communities. And they prove that it is possible
on longevity than genetics. Supporting these to generate profit while promoting well-being,
habits helps people live longer and better. It also inclusion and development.
contributes to workforce productivity and relieves
pressure on hospitals. In the Amazon rainforest, companies such as
Oakberry are transforming supply chains. They
Obesity, which affects one in eight people, causes support riverside communities who collect raw
3.7 million deaths per year from chronic diseases, materials like açaí fruit by helping them set up
according to the UN. If no action is taken, it will cost cooperatives, improve processing methods and
USD 3 trillion annually by 2030. obtain export certifications such as Gluten-Free
and No GMO.

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