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united nations report


– often referred to in the UK as chronic conditions and including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, mental health conditions, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases and musculoskeletal conditions. It is certainly the case that physical


a timely investment I


n the UK, we have long been aware of the evidence that physical activity can reduce the risk of non- communicable diseases (NCDs)


projected NCD mortality rates to current and future economic output). The cost-benefi t analysis within his report also found that the benefi ts of taking action now outweigh the costs of inaction three-fold. It is obvious that we need to act now.


inactivity has contributed to a staggering increase in the rates of NCDs on a global basis. NCDs now kill three in fi ve people worldwide, and cause great socio-economic harm within all countries, particularly developing nations. The overall toll of NCDs is estimated at 36 million, representing 63 per cent of total deaths. These statistics alone indicate both the severity and global epidemic status of NCDs. Then there’s the economic cost.


Professor David Bloom of the Harvard School of Public Health estimates that the loss in economic output due to the four major NCDs will be around US$30 trillion between 2011 and 2030 (calculated using the World Health Organisation’s ‘EPIC’ tool to relate


preventative healthcare The battle against these conditions is now being fought by 34 countries worldwide, and the decision by the United Nations General Assembly to convene a High Level Meeting (HLM) on NCDs on 19–20 September 2011 presented a unique opportunity for the international community to take action against the growing epidemic, save millions of lives and enhance development initiatives. Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser,


president of the General Assembly, said the occasion marked “a historic opportunity to set a new global agenda and to advance the protection of the world’s vulnerable populations”. The two-day meeting – attended


by 34 heads of state and government and at least 100 other senior ministers


Inactivity kills:


NCDs now account for three out of five deaths worldwide


leading by example The International Olympic Committee (IOC) is a new permanent observer of the United Nations and an active member of civil society. Its president, Jacques Rogge, spoke at the UN summit to confirm the committee’s commitment to combating NCDs through the promotion of physical activity and healthy lifestyles. Rogge talked about the role of sport


and physical activity in preventing NCDs. He called for governments, educational institutions, businesses and non- governmental organisations to work together, and urged support for several


58 Read Health Club Management online at healthclubmanagement.co.uk/digital january 2012 © cybertrek 2012


FIA CEO David Stalker reports on the recent UN meeting on non-communicable diseases, the focus on physical activity, and the next steps towards encouraging higher levels of activity across Europe


WORLD FOCUS


and experts – adopted a declaration calling for a multi-pronged campaign by governments, industry and civil society to set up, by 2013, the plans needed to curb the risk factors behind the four groups of NCDs: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes. As with many healthcare issues,


prevention is usually cheaper than the cost of treatment, but in the EU less than 3 per cent of the health budget is currently spent on prevention programmes. This now looks set to be addressed, as delegates at the UN HLM placed prevention as a cornerstone of future action. Identifi ed as of particular importance was the need to address the four major risk factors: tobacco, poor diet, lack of physical activity and the harmful use of alcohol. Steps proposed range from price/tax


measures aimed at reducing tobacco consumption through to curbing the extensive marketing to children – particularly on television – of foods and beverages that are high in saturated fats, trans-fatty acids, sugars or salt. Other proposed measures seek to cut the harmful consumption of alcohol, promote overall healthy diets and increase physical activity.


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