Lifestyle Factors Prevent Chronic Illness
Reduce Risk of Diabetes, Cancer, Heart Attack by Eighty Percent
Aug 18, 2009
Cancer, diabetes, heart attack and stroke account for the majority of chronic illnesses that cost Americans millions of dollars and countless lives each year. Yet just four lifestyle factors that are well within most individuals' control may reduce diabetes by 93%, heart attack by 81%, stroke by 50% and cancer by 36%, according to a new study conducted by Earl S. Ford, M.D., M.o.H. of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. The study was published in the August 10/24 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine, a journal of the American Medical Association.
CDC Study Assesses Lifestyle Factors that Influence Cancer, Diabetes and Other Disease
The researchers' goal was to confirm that large body of evidence that points to lifestyle factors as a major factor in reducing the event of chronic illness. Dr. Ford and colleagues reviewed data from 23,513 German adults ages 35 to 65 who agreed to participate in the EPIC-Potsdam study. Between 1994 and 1998, the participants carefully logged their body weight and height. Researchers conducted personal interviews with each study participant to develop a thorough profile of any existing diseases as well as social support, lifestyle factors, and food intake.
After the data was collected, researchers looked at how well they conformed to the four major lifestyle factors that appear to prevent chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and diabetes. These factors include:
- Never smoking
- Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) below 30 (thin, normal or slightly overweight but not obese)
- Exercising at least three and a half hours a week
- Following a healthy diet, which the researchers defined as high fruit and vegetable consumption combined with limited meat intake
Nearly all of 23,513 study participants had at least one of the four factors. Nine percent boasted all four factors.
Results: Many Cancer, Diabetes and Heart Disease Cases can be Prevented
The results confirmed what the overwhelming body of evidence already suggests; that people who follow the four healthy lifestyle factors have a much lower incidence of chronic disease than those who do not.
After researchers took into account factors such as age, sex, education level and occupation, here were the published results:
- Those who had all four healthy lifestyle factors at the start of the study were 78% less likely to develop a chronic disease.
- Their risk factor reduction was significant: they were 93% less likely to develop diabetes, 81% reduced risk of heart attack, a 50% reduced risk of stroke and a 36% reduced risk of cancer.
When all of the lifestyle factors were considered and studied at length, one stood out as the cornerstone of reduced risk of chronic disease: keeping BMI below 30, or maintaining a normal weight. Next most important was not smoking, followed by physical activity and a healthy plant-based diet.
The results confirmed what doctors have long suspected and many health experts have advised. A key takeaway for people interested in preventing chronic diseases is that by maintaining a normal or healthy body weight, never smoking, remaining physically active and eating a diet rich in vegetables and fruits, many people can prevent chronic diseases.
Some Chronic Diseases Not Preventable
Although the risks were certainly reduced, they were not completely eradicated. Some people participating in the study still developed diabetes, had heart attacks or strokes or developed cancer. Genetic factors, environmental exposure to toxins, and many other factors can influence the development of chronic illness. Yet many lifestyle factors can easily reduce the risk as well as the cost and suffering to millions.
Like the famous Harvard Nurses' Health Study, the EPIC Pottsdam Study provides much food for thought. If going out for a walk every day, giving up the cigarettes, losing a bit of weight and munching on apples instead of potato chips can reduce disease risk by this much, it's worth considering.
 |
