Chapter 3
Global Health: Where Are We Going?
The more I learned about the state of health and chronic dis-
ease in North America and developed countries, the clearer it be-
came that over-consumption and lack of physical activity are no
longer confined to the wealthiest countries. Data from the World
Health Organization (WHO) clearly shows that chronic disease is
an increasingly global problem. In fact, the WHO states that 60 per-
cent of deaths are caused by chronic diseases^1 ; the major risk fac-
tors for chronic disease are an unhealthy diet, physical inactivity,
and tobacco use^2 ; and if the major risk factors for chronic disease
were eliminated, at least 80 percent of heart disease, stroke, and
type 2 diabetes would be prevented and 40 percent of cancer would
be prevented.^3
As the world “urbanizes” and economies rapidly grow—such
as in India, China, and other parts of Asia and Africa—people in
these societies start taking on the Western lifestyle. As these popu-
lations move from their agrarian rural lifestyle, which was more
physically active and predominantly plant based, with whole foods
and small amounts of free-range animal foods, their per capita
calorie consumption increases. With this increase in calories and
reduction in nutrient dense foods and physical activity, come the
overweight issues and subsequent chronic diseases of the indus-
trialized countries.
Just as in the United States, the typical diets of developing na-
tions are now characterized by a significant increase in total calo-
ries, animal foods (meats), added fats, oils, caloric sweeteners, and
a mild increase in grains (but a reduction in the percent of calories
from grains compared to other food stuffs), in conjunction with