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Monday, 17 September 2007 11:54 |
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Lifestyle disease deaths may double by 2015, World Health Organanization warns
Fri Sep 14, 2007
World deaths from "lifestyle" diseases will double by 2015 unless
all-out efforts are taken to combat them, the World Health Organisation
(WHO) warned Friday. It said about 17 million people die prematurely each year as a result
of the global epidemic of largely preventable chronic diseases -- the
leading cause of death in the world today. High on the list are cardiovascular diseases -- mainly heart disease
and stroke -- cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes and
obesity. "Unless national interventions are urgently taken to reduce the
prevalence of chronic diseases, 36 million people will die of these
diseases by 2015, nearly half of them before they turn 70," said
Shigeru Omi, director of the WHO regional committee for the Western
Pacific.
The committee Friday was winding up a five-day meeting in the southern South Korean island of Jeju.
In 2005 the WHO set a global goal of reducing the projected trend of
chronic disease death rates by two percent each year until 2015. The
vast majority of cases are caused by a small number of known and
preventable risk factors. Three of the most important are unhealthy
diet, physical inactivity and tobacco use, the WHO said. Omi called for
a "whole-of-society" approach to prevention. "All
sectors, from government to private enterprises, civil society and
communities, will have to work together," he said. Regional health
ministers urged national leaders to be role models for
healthy lifestyles, including encouraging people to eat nutritious
local food. The ministers also called for better strategies to reduce
non-communicable diseases. Strengthening health services that are under
pressure from the growing
burden of non-communicable diseases is also part of the
"whole-of-society" approach, the WHO said. In line with this, regional
health leaders will meet in Singapore in November to identify solutions.
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Last Updated on Friday, 05 October 2007 16:36 |
