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WHAT ARE THE MAJOR HEALTH ISSUES

IN THE WORLD TODAY?

In poor countries, dirty water and lack of adequate

food are among the main causes of poor health.

Infectious diseases such as malaria and AIDS are also

major problems, especially in countries that cannot

afford modern drugs and medical equipment. In

rich countries, health problems are more often

caused by people’s lifestyle.

150 Human Body

Being healthy means being free of disease or injury

and able to lead a fulfilling, active life. Many factors

contribute to a person’s health, including genes, the

environment,. NUTRITION, lifestyle, and luck.

HOW DOES LIFESTYLE AFFECT HEALTH?

The affluent lifestyle of people in rich countries can

increase the risk of serious diseases. Heart disease,

obesity (excessive storage of fat), and strokes (blood

clots in the brain) are all more common in people

who take little exercise or eat too much rich food.

Health problems caused by tobacco, alcohol, and

drug abuse are common in both rich and poor countries.

WHAT IS A BALANCED DIET?

A balanced diet includes a mixture of carbohydrates,

proteins, fats, vitamins, minerals, and fibre. Sweets and

fast food usually contain too much carbohydrate and

fat, and little of the fibre needed to keep the digestive

system healthy. Fast food that does not contain fresh

ingredients is often low in vitamins and minerals.

WHAT IS MALNUTRITION?

Malnutrition means “bad nutrition”. This can happen

when a person has too little of certain types of food.

Lack of protein, for example, can cause stunted

growth. Malnutrition can also occur if the diet has

excessive amounts of some types of foods – too much

fat and sugar, for example, can result in obesity.

CLEAN WATER 3

A supply of clean drinking

water, such as this pump in

Cambodia, is vital for good health.

In places without a modern sewage

system, germs from sewage often

contaminate the drinking water supply and

cause diseases such as typhoid and cholera.

WHY IS OBESITY A PROBLEM?

Obesity is increasingly common in wealthy countries.

It can lead to medical problems, including diabetes,

heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure. Excess

weight can also put strain on the body, causing back

pain, shortness of breath, and arthritis.

The process of supplying the body with the nutrients (foods) it

needs to stay alive is called nutrition. Eating a variety of foods –

a balanced diet – is an important part of keeping healthy.

4 FOOD PYRAMID

The food pyramid shows the proportions and range of food types that

make up a healthy diet. It is important to eat plenty of fresh fruit and

vegetables and to reduce the intake of saturated fats and sugar.

Health

Meat, eggs, fish, and nuts are rich in

protein, vitamins, and minerals, but some

kinds of meat contain large amounts of

fat, which can cause health problems if

eaten in large quantities

Cakes, oils, and sweets are

rich in fats and sugars that

contain useful nutrients but

should only be eaten in

small quantities

Bread, potatoes,

rice, and pasta are

mostly carbohydrate

and are the body’s

main source

of energy

Fruit is a good source of

water, fibre, and vitamins and

contains natural sugars that

give us a burst of energy

Vegetables contain

vitamins and minerals,

and are rich in fibre

Milk, cheese, butter,

and yogurt are good

sources of calcium

These United Nations figures show average life expectancy for babies

born from 2005-2010. The life expectancy of people living in the wealthy

countries of the world is almost three times that of people in the poorest.

THE TOP FIVE COUNTRIES

Japan 82.6 years

Iceland 81.8 years

Switzerland 81.7 years

Australia 81.2 years

Spain 80.9 years

THE BOTTOM FIVE COUNTRIES

Liberia 41.8 years

Sierra Leone 41.3 years

Mozambique 41.2 years

Zambia 38.6 years

Angola 38.2 years

LIFE EXPECTANCY

NUTRITION

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