Prevention of chronic diseases

Prevention of chronic diseases and the reduction of their impact are seen to be related to dietary and lifestyle changes. The role of diet is essential in preventing and controlling morbidity. Since rapid changes in diets and lifestyles have occurred with industrialization, economic development and market globalization, progress has significant impact on health and nutritional status of population. With the increase of inappropriate dietary patterns and decrease of physical activity is the corresponding increase of diet related chronic diseases. Changes in the world food economy are practically reflected in the shift of dietary patterns. Because of these changes, obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke and cancer are increasingly fast becoming causes of disability and death.

Trends in shifting dietary patterns and increasing sedentary lifestyle are major risk factor for noncommunicable chronic diseases. Along with the increased tobacco use are the corresponding increased of diet related chronic diseases which is more common among the poor people. Nutrition is fast coming to the fore as major modifiable determinant of chronic diseases. Any alterations in diet have both positive and negative long term effects on health and life. Dietary adjustments may very well determine any person’s tendency to develop diseases like cancers, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes in later life. This is to reiterate the importance of nutrition, diet and exercise in a person’s life even at a very young age. Developing recommendations for diet and nutrition and the need for sufficient physical activity is still best in the prevention of chronic diseases.