Bold Disruption to End the Metabolic Disease Crisis

The chronic disease crisis won’t fix itself—and waiting is no longer an option. Join Virta CEO and Founder, Sami Inkinen, to kick off Moonshots for Health 2026, where innovators and industry leaders unite to flip the script on metabolic disease and ignite real change across our healthcare system.

Metabolic disease drives the majority of chronic illness and cost in our healthcare system—but what if we can actually reverse it? In this keynote, Dr. Ben Bikman cuts through decades of conventional thinking to reveal the unifying root cause driving chronic conditions like diabetes and obesity. He shows how tackling insulin resistance head-on isn’t just rewriting the science—it’s redefining what’s possible in healthcare.

Metabolic disease is quietly driving the majority of chronic care costs, absenteeism, and productivity loss — yet most strategies still treat its symptoms, not its cause. Drawing on the McKinsey Health Institute’s influential analysis, Hemant Ahlawat will reveal how metabolic disease—including obesity and related comorbidities—is projected to strain economies and health systems for decades, and why treating symptoms in isolation is no longer sufficient. Leaders will learn why the choice before us isn’t between drugs or no drugs, but between reactive management and a transformative vision of metabolic health for all.

Meaningfully bending the trend on metabolic disease and outcomes requires bold disruption. In this candid session, Lilah Jones will challenge attendees to rethink their organizations’ assumptions and unlock the transformational strategies required to drive change. Rick Mayes will share his personal journey of disruption, illustrating what it takes to push against entrenched systems and lead with conviction. Together, they offer a rare inside look at the mindset, courage, and action needed to drive bold disruption that reshapes population health at scale.

GLP-1s have captured headlines and healthcare budgets alike—but the real-world data tells a more complex story. From adherence challenges and rebound weight gain to concerning mortality trends in older adults, the evidence points to deeper issues beneath the hype. This session separates signal from noise, revealing what every health plan and benefits leader needs to know before betting big on the latest metabolic craze.

Menopause marks one of the most profound—and overlooked—metabolic shifts in a woman’s life, driving increased risk for obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions. Yet most care models focus on symptom relief instead of addressing the root metabolic change beneath it. This session uncovers why menopause is a pivotal moment for intervention and how a metabolic approach can unlock better outcomes for women—and lower costs for those who cover their care.

Healthcare is racing toward a tipping point, and bold disruption is no longer optional—it’s urgent. In this dynamic, debate-style session, three visionary leaders make the case for the transformative force they believe will drive the next era of health: sweeping food policy reform, human-centered AI-driven care, or metabolic disease reversal at scale. Each perspective will offer a radically different path to ending the metabolic crisis and reshaping cost, outcomes, and experience for millions.

In this candid conversation, actress, TV host and filmmaker Ricki Lake shares her deeply personal journey to lasting health—not through quick fixes and fads, but through real, sustainable lifestyle change. With honesty and humor, she opens up about breaking free from the cycle of diets and self-doubt. Her story is a reminder that when we address the root cause—lasting change isn’t just possible, it’s inevitable.