Entitled “Preventing chronic Diseases: a vital investment”, the report asserts that 60% of all deaths are due to chronic diseases at global level. In 2005, 35 million people will die from chronic diseases (ie cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies).
The WHO makes clear that the causes of chronic diseases are largely preventable and well known. The most important risk factors are the socioeconomic determinants, an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and tobacco consumption, factors which often lead to obesity.
The report outlines that the absence of preventive actions and absence of equitable access are much more conducive to chronic diseases than the question of individual responsibility.
Moreover, chronic diseases strikingly affect mostly low and middle income countries which usually focus their action on infectious diseases before chronic diseases.
As a result, the WHO has set out a global goal of reducing the annual chronic disease rate by 2% worldwide over the next 10 years, saving 36 million lives by 2015. However, the authors highlight that such a result will only be achieved if all sectors work and cooperate together: government, academics, private industry and civil society, using the already available scientific knowledge.
WHO Strategy on diet, physical activity and health
WHO FULL report “Preventing chronic diseases: a vital investment”
(Please note that the file size is over 7 MB)
