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Preventing chronic disease and promoting sustainable social policy
Anna Coote Commissioner for Health, UKSDC December 2007
Sustainable development Why prevention matters Sustainable prevention Identifying barriers Towards a sustainable social policy
Sustainable development
LIVING WITHIN ENVIRONMENTAL LIMITS ENSURING A STRONG, HEALTHY AND JUST SOCIETY ACHIEVING A SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY PROMOTING GOOD GOVERNANCE USING SOUND SCIENCE RESPONSIBLY
Preventing chronic disease
Releases resources for treating
un
avoidable illness Improves individual health and well being Secures long-term viability of health services Safeguards the future
Preventing environmental damage Sustainable development Preventing chronic disease
Sustainable social policy Sustainable development Preventing environmental damage Preventing chronic disease
Projected global distribution of chronic disease deaths
WHO, 2005
Obesity
One in four people affected Nearly 1 in 3 children under 11 overweight or obese by 2010 Strong links with diabetes, heart disease and other illness Counting the cost £49 million on health and social care services £3.65 billion in associated costs £3.7 billion in England each year.
Depression
By 2020, the second greatest contributor to the burden of disease for all ages and both sexes (WHO, 2007) Does more damage to health than four major chronic conditions: angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes. (
Lancet
, 2007)
Mental health problems
1 in 6 people affected Anxiety and depression most common Often leads to physical illness Counting the cost £12 billion on health and social care services £23 billion in lost economic output from people unable to work £41 billion from reduced quality of life and premature death £76 billion in England each year.
Chronic disease Poverty Poverty Chronic disease
“The major causes of chronic diseases are known , and if these risk factors were eliminated , at least 80% of all heart disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes would be prevented ; over 40% of cancer would be prevented.”
WHO, Preventing Chronic Disease: a vital investment
“Common, modifiable the vast majority risk factors explain of chronic disease deaths at all ages, in men and women, in all parts of the world. They include
physical inactivity tobacco use unhealthy diet”
WHO, Preventing Chronic Disease: a vital investment
Obesity system map with thematic clusters Foresight 2007 fig 8.1
Exercise
Diet
Contact with natural environments
Healthier people and planet Reduce road traffic Combat global warming Reduce risks of chronic disease Promote active travel
Healthier people and planet Fresh, affordable, local food Prevent damage to environment Reduce risks of chronic disease Stronger local economies
Getting out more
Protecting natural environments
“We are strongly persuaded that access to good quality green space provides an effective, population-wide strategy for the promotion of good health, well-being and quality of life … we are convinced that the evidence is sufficiently strong to warrant amending planning guidance to recognise the health benefits of green space and to build green space into new and existing developments”
Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 2007
Healthier people and planet More access to green spaces Sustain the natural environment Reduce risks of chronic disease Better physical and mental health
Barriers to change
‘Producer capture’ Less investment in research Political short-termism Professional training Media campaigns ‘Downstream’ measures
The evidence
Most chronic disease is preventable People want to stay well Sustainable development helps prevents disease Unsustainable development is a major risk to health Health professionals must take responsibility for tackling climate change High costs of failing to prevent will overwhelm health systems, wasting resources better spent elsewhere
Securing our Future Health
, HM Treasury, 2002
Climate Change and Health Council declaration, 2007
“We as health professionals and health managers, concerned about the effects of climate change on global health and the environment … Call on individual health professionals to measure and reduce their own carbon footprint and to push for health-related institutions to adopt sustainable practices…”
Connections between household energy efficiency and health
The Lancet, September 2007
The NHS spends £90 billion a year
If it were a country its economy would rank 30
th
in the world
Good Corporate Citizenship
How NHS organisations contribute to sustainable development through their corporate activities Procurement Employment Travel plans Managing energy, waste and water Buildings and landscaping Community engagement.
“Identifying ways to reduce the causal factors of climate change – mitigation – and effectively help populations and systems deal with risks and threats posed by climate change – adaptation – especially for vulnerable populations , can lead to a greater sense of security and control and result in improved population health . The health sector can and should be at the heart of this.”
WHO Europe, 2005
“This is a new dimension for public health which reverses the traditional thinking : from describing what has already occurred and identifying and reducing specific risk factors, to taking action on the basis of prediction and early warning to prevent health consequences in large populations .”
WHO Europe, 2005
Better health, better use of resources A safer future Prevent the preventable Towards a sustainable social policy Sustain through prevention Manage unavoidable disease Prevent through sustainability
Thank you
www.sd-commission.org.uk