Unhealthy eating can lead to chronic diseases

Name: Shanice Ang (30)

Class: 3 Service

Unhealthy eating can lead to chronic diseases which are so worrying as they seem to occur eralier and earlier in life in each generation, tend to persist throughout life and are detrimental to our health.The risks of developing chronic diseases begin in fetal life and continue into old age.

In the womb and in early infancy
-Delayed fetal growth has been associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and high blood pressure.
-Unusually large size at birth, possibly resulting from overnutrition in the womb, has been linked to an increased risk of diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

Breastfeeding
-may lower the risk of later developing obesity.
-In contrast, breast-milk substitutes (formula) may increase the risk of developing several chronic diseases,such as type 1 diabetes and cancer, in childhood and adolescence.

During infancy and childhood
-both delayed growth and excessive weight or height gain have been shown to contribute to chronic disease in later life.
~infants with a low weight or short stature may experience an increased risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, or diabetes.
~Shorter children who gain height particularly quickly have an increased risk of stroke and certain cancers.

During childhood and adolescence
unhealthy diets, low-levels of exercise, as well as alcohol and tobacco use has been shown to increase the risk of developing certain chronic diseases.
-high blood pressure in children
~risk of developing cardiovascular disease
~obesity
~ increased risk of cancer in later life

How do we prevent these diseases?

-physical activity

-food variety

-social interaction

-It is generally recommended to increase the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and fish, and to adjust the types of fats and oils consumed, as well as the amount of sugars and starch in the diet(:

The main burden of chronic diseases is observed in people older than 60. Cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers are most common at this stage in life. As the risk of developing disease is generally believed to be reversible at any age there is an absolute benefit for ageing individuals to eat healthily, maintain their weight, and continue to exercise. Since we ate still young and hopping, it is not too late to start eating healthy now and prevent these diseases in our future!

From: http://www.greenfacts.org/en/diet-nutrition