New Research Reveals What’s Truly Driving Americans’ Health

By Shantanu Agrawal, MD, Chief Health Officer of Anthem, Inc., and Darrell Gray, MD, Chief Health Equity Officer of Anthem, Inc.

A recent study from Anthem, Inc. aims to increase understanding of whole health and the factors that drive it.

Historically, our definition of health has focused on the medical care we receive. But data tells us that to truly improve health, we must take a more holistic view and better understand all the drivers, or factors, that impact it. The moment in which we find ourselves, one that has brought so much focus to health and wellness, gives us an opportunity to reengage individuals and communities in a broader conversation about what makes — and keeps — us healthy.

Many of us know exercise, nutrition and regular doctor visits play a role in good health. But many other circumstances influence our health significantly. A vast majority of our health, up to 80 percent, is driven by factors like our access to adequate housing, transportation, healthy and affordable food, green spaces, internet service, economic stability and more. Collectively these factors are called social drivers of health, or SDH.

To better understand these social drivers and what people believe about their health at this moment in time, Anthem conducted a survey of 5,000 adults across the U.S. The result is “Driving Our Health: A study exploring health perceptions in America.”

Raising awareness of these drivers and their impact is a crucial first step in improving the health of our nation. By deepening our understanding of these drivers, we can do more than improve health outcomes. We can also ensure that our health system can address all the drivers of whole health and do so with greater equity. Below are some of the key study findings.

We can do more to connect the dots on whole health and its drivers.

While many Americans are aware that drivers like financial stability, mental health and access to healthy food can significantly impact our health, as a nation we need to expand our understanding of all the drivers that shape whole health.

Our lived experiences shape our perceptions of whole health.

Our backgrounds and circumstances greatly influence our ability to meet basic needs and access services. These disparities among demographic groups shape our view of whole health and our ability to achieve equity.

Financial security is a key driver of Americans’ health.

Many Americans, especially those in communities of color, face significant financial burdens. Financial insecurity, and the limitations it often places on meeting basic social and health needs, is a key driver of consumers’ health.

We believe everyone is responsible for improving whole health.

Americans believe that action is needed to address social drivers of health (SDH) and health disparities, but no entity should be held solely responsible.

Change won’t happen overnight. But we believe we can change our approach to health for the better. With this in mind, Anthem encourages individuals of all walks of life to join us in these actions to help put us on the right path:

EDUCATE. Learn more about whole health and its drivers, starting with reading the “Driving Our Health” study and visiting WhatsDrivingOurHealth.com.

EXPAND. Spread the word about the social drivers of health using the hashtag #DrivingOurHealth and by visiting @drivingourhealth on Instagram.

ENGAGE. Learn more and join Anthem in the important conversation around these issues.

Everyone should have the opportunity to be and stay healthy. Together, we can all work to make that dream a reality.

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