Lifestyle-related diseases share similar risk factors to prolonged exposure to three modifiable lifestyle behaviors—smoking, poor diet, and physical inactivity—and lead to the development of chronic diseases, particularly heart disease, stroke, diabetes, obesity, metabolic syndrome, chronic obstructive diseases. lung disease and certain types of cancer.
These diseases were formerly considered diseases of industrialized countries, called “Western diseases” or “diseases of wealth”; however, internationally they are known as non-communicable and chronic diseases, part of the degenerative diseases group. Chronic illnesses can lead to loss of independence, years of disability or death, and impose a considerable economic burden on health services.
Today, chronic diseases constitute a major public health problem worldwide. In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 61 percent of all deaths, or 35 million, and 49 percent of the global burden of disease were attributable to chronic diseases. By 2030, the proportion of total deaths due to chronic diseases worldwide is expected to increase by up to 70 percent and the global burden of disease by up to 56 percent. The largest increase is expected in the Africa and Eastern Mediterranean regions.
The World Health Assembly adopted a resolution in 2000 on the prevention and control of chronic diseases. It called on its member states to develop national policy frameworks, taking into account healthy public policies as well as fiscal measures in favor of healthy and unhealthy goods and services. The resolution also called for establishing programs for the prevention and control of chronic diseases; assess and monitor mortality and the proportion of disease in an area due to chronic diseases; promote effective secondary and tertiary prevention; and develop guidelines for cost-effective screening, diagnosis and treatment of chronic diseases, with particular emphasis on developing countries.
The combination of four healthy lifestyle factors – maintaining a healthy weight, exercising regularly, following a healthy diet and not smoking – appears to be associated with up to an 80 percent reduction in risk to develop the most common and fatal syndrome. chronic diseases. This reinforces current public health recommendations regarding following healthy lifestyle habits, and since these habits often originate during the formative stages of life, it is especially important to begin teaching important lessons about a way of life early. healthy life.
However, despite the well-known benefits of a healthy lifestyle, only a small proportion of adults follow such a routine; in fact, the numbers are falling. Unfortunately, there is little public awareness of the link between health and lifestyle. Many are unaware that a change in lifestyle is an important factor in the emergence of chronic diseases as causes of increased morbidity and mortality. Lifestyle is generally considered a personal matter. However, lifestyles are social practices and lifestyles adopted by individuals that reflect personal, group, and socioeconomic identities.
Modest but achievable adjustments to lifestyle behaviors will likely have a significant impact at the individual and population level. Health professionals and the media now repeatedly convey the message that to stay healthy, people must adopt healthy behaviors. Physical activity, stopping smoking, eating a diet high in fiber and low in fat, controlling body weight and learning to manage stress reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, cancer and premature mortality.
A comprehensive public health approach to tobacco control effectively inhibits the initiation of tobacco consumption and promotes its cessation, through a series of measures including tax and pricing policy, restrictions on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship, packaging and labeling requirements, education campaigns, restrictions on smoking in public places and smoking cessation services. A comprehensive approach must include young people to reach the entire population. National policy measures known to have the greatest impact on individual consumption levels, cessation and initiation rates require sustained political will and commitment and, above all, effective and well-enforced legislation.
Furthermore, effective public health measures are urgently needed to promote physical activity and improve health worldwide. The challenge of promoting physical activity is as much the responsibility of governments as of the population. However, individual measures to promote physical activity are influenced by the environment, sports and recreational facilities and national policy. This requires coordination between many sectors, such as health, sports, education and cultural policy, media and information, transport, urban planning, local government and financial and economic planning. To this end, the World Health Organization supports its Member States by providing national evidence-based advocacy on the health, social and economic benefits of a healthy lifestyle.
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