What does the Olympics stand for: is it the inspiration for a healthier, sportier community? Or is it just another way to sell junk food and booze to an ever-fatter, ever-drunker population of couch potatoes…
More people live in cities than ever before. We can’t solve problems of sustainability and health without fixing them.
Bill Hertha
The secretary-general of the United Nations’ (first) Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Maurice Strong, famously declared that if our planet is to remain a hospitable and sustainable home for the human species…
Psychological influences on weight problems are extremely important, but are often overlooked.
vistavision
Researchers have been telling us for decades that being overweight is not good for our health. Medical journals are full of articles that link overweight and obesity to just about every disease and illness…
Chronic diseases act as a driver for disadvantage in the developing world, leading to cycles of poverty.
Secom Bahia/Flickr
The eyes and ears of the global health world were firmly fixed on Geneva last week for the 2012 World Health Assembly, the annual meeting of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) member states. One of…
Sydney needs sustainable solutions to keep its growing population happy and healthy.
Franklin Heijnen
Australia’s future population is again under the spotlight. The Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) has just released a new report on Australian population futures.
And focus has sharpened…
The Conversation’s health coverage: policy, chiropractic, obesity and medicine.
AAP, Planetc1.com, Puuiki Beach, LJA Kliche
In The Conversation’s first editorial meeting editor Andrew Jaspan explained what he wanted to achieve with the site: a more informed level of debate, based on evidence, research and expert opinion.
It…
Interventions that influence different aspects of the food and physical activity environments are needed to tackle obesity among children.
wizardhat/Flickr
This is a shorter version of an article that appears in the latest issue of Perspectives, an opinion-led journal published by Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute.
The prevalence of overweight and obesity…
The 2009 CHOGM meeting held in Port of Spain joined the call to put NCDs on the global agenda.
AAP
CHOGM: As the leaders of Commonwealth nations prepare to meet in Perth this week, The Conversation is examining the role of the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) Meeting.
In our latest…
An analysis of newspaper reporting about sweet drinks found coverage was largely positively oriented.
barekim/Flickr
Sugary drinks are very popular, almost entirely unnecessary, and contribute to a number of health problems.
Despite such health risks, these drinks are increasingly marketed as healthy with labels highlighting…
A coconut scraping competition during a sports day organised by one of Sri Lanka’s Elder' Clubs.
Wendy Holmes
Non-communicable diseases – In the final article in our series on NCDs, Wendy Holmes looks at a successful strategy for mitigating the impact of these diseases in Sri Lanka.
The grey-haired women in their…
We may be permanently programmed by our response to adverse environments during pre-natal life.
storyvillegirl/Flickr
Non-communicable diseases – William Ledger discusses the impact of fetal health on the development of NCDs.
We like to think that we are, to a greater or lesser extent, the masters of our own destiny…
People are more likely to walk if they live in compact, pedestrian-friendly neighbourhoods with connected street networks.
Elsie esq./flickr
Non-communicable diseases – Billie Giles-Corti looks at how the built environment impacts the development of NCDs.
Never before in human history have so many people been able to be so sedentary in the…
Most people in the world eat five times as much salt as they need to be healthy.
Daniel Y. Go
Non-communicable diseases – Jacqui Webster looks at strategies for reducing the salt content of our diets.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) – typically cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases…
Better ways to finance pharmaceutical research and development could make medicines more accessible.
Images_of_Money
Non-communicable diseases – Philip Soos examines the importance of essential drugs and technologies to the world’s poor, a priority action area noted by the Lancet NCD Action Group and the NCD Alliance…
Don Draper may like a smoke but the madmen of the tobacco industry do all they can to undermine public health.
collider.com
Non-communicable diseases – Matthew Rimmer examines plain packaging as a way to curb tobacco use. Smoking is one of the biggest causes of non-communicable diseases.
In an episode of the television show…
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon addresses the UN High-Level Meeting on NCDs on September 19, 2011.
UN Photo/Marco Castro
Non-communicable diseases – Professor Stephen Leeder looks at what came out of the UN meeting on NCDs.
Despite the lack of definite goals and targets, the United Nations High-Level Meeting in New York…
The most promising interventions to curb obesity’s prevalence target the population as a whole rather than individuals.
Tobyotter
Non-communicable diseases – Lennert Veerman examines the reasons for the obesity epidemic and options for controlling it.
Obesity levels are on the rise the world over. This is a sign that something is…
Focussing on ‘harmful’ alcohol use means attention is diverted from reducing alcohol intake across the population.
Visit Greenwich
Non-communicable diseases – Paula O'Brien looks at the what The Lancet NCD Action Group and the NCD Alliance name as one of the priority interventions for mitigating the impact of NCDs: reduction in hazardous…
The UN is holding a High-Level meeting on September 19-20 to discuss the impact of NCDs.
AAP
Non-communicable diseases – The first in our series of articles about non-communicable diseases is a contribution from the emeritus director of the Pan-American Health Organisation (PAHO), who provides…
Government policies promoting economic growth have contributed to global crises of overconsumption such as obesity.
colros/Flickr
Obesity has been on the rise for some 40 years and will continue to create an enormous burden on global health systems if governments around the world do not take decisive, policy-driven action, according…
The US has been in the lead of changing the rhetoric and practice of how the developing world gives aid.
cea b d o/Flickr
Ever since the global financial crisis, “value for money” has become the slogan of choice for international aid.
The Americans have been in the lead, changing the rhetoric and practice of how they give…
