Question

Does diet and lifestyle play an important role in the global epidemic of chronic disease?

Answer 1

Chronic disease is by definition is one lasting for 3 months or more and these can't be prevented by vaccines and cured by medications, nor do they just disappear. They majorly occur due to either poor dieting habits or poor lifestyle. In our daily life, we can see a number of examples of chronic diseases affecting life around us. In fact, these diseases are so common that we even observe many of our family members or relatives suffering from them. The few most common examples of chronic diseases we often observe are Diabetes, Cardiovascular diseases (Hypertension, Congestive heart failure, Angina pectoris, etc), Arthritis, Cancer, Obesity, Osteoporosis, Dental diseases, etc. Therefore it may be said that both diet and lifestyle are the key factors that affect the occurrence of most of the chronic diseases. Studies and researches have suggested that by modifying diet and lifestyle we can greatly prevent most of the chronic diseases from occurring.

Let's understand this by taking examples of some most commonly occurring chronic diseases. If we take the example of Diabetes, we all know it is the most common chronic disease globally especially endemic in developed countries like the United States. The most common etiology of this disease is considered to be poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle. According to a study conducted by the International Diabetes Federation, people who eat healthy food and exercise routinely reduces the risk of having diabetes by 65%. Consuming more carbohydrates than the required causes of its deposition in the body is fat which ultimately causes obesity and increases the body bulk, therefore it becomes difficult for the limited amount of insulin to control the excess blood glucose, and its sensitivity towards the cells also decreases with time. Further, the alternative metabolism of fat leads to an increased level of free fatty acids in the blood which may clog arteries and veins to cause cardiovascular diseases. That is why it is said that those developing diabetes may develop cardiovascular diseases in the later stage of life. But if we make a balance between intake and expenditure of the calories by means of physical exercises and take fewer carbohydrates and use healthy fats (HDL), then not only we can prevent diabetes and cardiovascular diseases but also we can stay mentally active as well. Similarly, by adding some good habits in life, some bad habits must also be dropped, like smoking, alcohol consumption, etc. It is a well-established fact that smoking causes cancer, therefore, dropping this habit will also prevent cancer.

Let's see some other dieting habits which are very effective in the prevention of some chronic disease. Eating lots of fiber in the diet prevents constipation and helps in reducing the serum triglyceride level which may prevent cardiovascular complications.

To sum up things, both diet and lifestyle modification is very essential for the prevention and management of the most common chronic diseases.