Diseases of comfort: primary cause of death in the 22nd century Export

@article{choi_et_al_2005, abstract = {Context: The world has started to feel the impact of a global chronic disease epidemic, which is putting pressure on our health care systems. If uncurbed, a new generation of "diseases of comfort" (such as those chronic diseases caused by obesity and physical inactivity) will become a major public health problem in this and the next century. Objective: To describe the concept, causes, and prevention and control strategies of diseases of comfort. Methods: Brokered by a senior research scientist specialised in knowledge translation, a chair, a president, and a past president of national public health associations contributed their views on the subject. Results: Diseases of comfort have emerged as a price of living in a modern society. It is inevitable that these diseases will become more common and more disabling if human "progress" and civilisation continue toward better (more comfortable) living, without necessarily considering their effects on health. Modern technology must be combined with education, legislation, intersectoral action, and community involvement to create built and social environments that encourage, and make easy, walking, physical activity, and nutritious food choices, to reduce the health damaging effects of modern society for all citizens and not only the few. Conclusions: Public health needs to be more passionate about the health issues caused by human progress and adopt a health promotion stance, challenging the assumptions behind the notion of social "progress" that is giving rise to the burden of chronic disease and developing the skills to create more health promoting societies in which individual health thrives. 10.1136/jech.2005.032805}, author = {Choi, Bernard C. and Hunter, David J. and Tsou, Walter and Sainsbury, Peter}, citeulike-article-id = {3501824}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.032805}, citeulike-linkout-1 = {http://jech.bmj.com/cgi/content/abstract/59/12/1030}, citeulike-linkout-2 = {http://view.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16286489}, citeulike-linkout-3 = {http://www.hubmed.org/display.cgi?uids=16286489}, day = {1}, doi = {10.1136/jech.2005.032805}, journal = {J Epidemiol Community Health}, keywords = {behaviour, chd, environment, obesity, progress, society}, month = {December}, number = {12}, pages = {1030--1034}, posted-at = {2008-11-10 21:12:12}, priority = {2}, title = {Diseases of comfort: primary cause of death in the 22nd century}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.032805}, volume = {59}, year = {2005} }

TY - JOUR ID - choi_et_al_2005 L3 - citeulike-article-id:3501824 N2 - Context: The world has started to feel the impact of a global chronic disease epidemic, which is putting pressure on our health care systems. If uncurbed, a new generation of "diseases of comfort" (such as those chronic diseases caused by obesity and physical inactivity) will become a major public health problem in this and the next century. Objective: To describe the concept, causes, and prevention and control strategies of diseases of comfort. Methods: Brokered by a senior research scientist specialised in knowledge translation, a chair, a president, and a past president of national public health associations contributed their views on the subject. Results: Diseases of comfort have emerged as a price of living in a modern society. It is inevitable that these diseases will become more common and more disabling if human "progress" and civilisation continue toward better (more comfortable) living, without necessarily considering their effects on health. Modern technology must be combined with education, legislation, intersectoral action, and community involvement to create built and social environments that encourage, and make easy, walking, physical activity, and nutritious food choices, to reduce the health damaging effects of modern society for all citizens and not only the few. Conclusions: Public health needs to be more passionate about the health issues caused by human progress and adopt a health promotion stance, challenging the assumptions behind the notion of social "progress" that is giving rise to the burden of chronic disease and developing the skills to create more health promoting societies in which individual health thrives. 10.1136/jech.2005.032805 IS - 12 JF - J Epidemiol Community Health EP - 1034 TI - Diseases of comfort: primary cause of death in the 22nd century VL - 59 SP - 1030 KW - behaviour KW - chd KW - environment KW - obesity KW - progress KW - society AU - Choi, Bernard AU - Hunter, David AU - Tsou, Walter AU - Sainsbury, Peter PY - 2005/12/01/ UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2005.032805 ER -