We know that lifestyle-related chronic diseases (Non – Communicable diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease and diabetes) are placing an increasing burden on health systems around the world and account for 35 million deaths each year. This is 60% of all deaths. And these diseases have common risk factors: inappropriate diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use, There is extremely little that is being done in regards to these lifestyle-related chronic diseases in developing countries. These diseases are not getting the attention they deserve. Yet they are becoming a larger and larger piece of the puzzle of public health.
The good news is that by preventing the risk factors, we can prevent the majority of deaths due to lifestyle – related diseases. The evidence for the importance of healthy lifestyles is now overwhelming. A wealth of Research is showing that lifestyle changes in diet and levels of physical activity improve the health of entire communities.
For example, 30 minutes of moderate physical activity each day, that is the equivalent of a brisk walk, can reduce your risk of a heart attack by up to 50%. Increasing your fruit and vegetable consumption can reduce your risk of colon cancer by up to 50%. So these changes are real, they are achievable. Here another example: Heart disease accounts for more premature deaths than any other illness and is almost completely preventable simply by changing diet and lifestyle.
So, what can be done? In order to achieve measurable goals interventions should vary for the sorts of risk factors. As a matter of fact the first thing we have to do is target the population and give a very clear key messages in terms of public education.
For example, to increase physical activity, the population has to be educated to the importance of physical activity, but again if we don’t have the environment, i.e. a safe place to be physically active, the education program will not work. We have to ensure that the whole environment is one where people can make the healthy choices.
The message is clear and profoundly powerful: If people just did four simple things—not smoking, exercising a half-hour a day, eating a diet that emphasizes whole plant foods, and not becoming obese—that may prevent most cases of diabetes and heart attacks, half of strokes, and a third of cancers. This is great news.
