Digital devices can make a real difference in treating chronic diseases. But many who have these conditions are poor, and they often cannot afford the devices.
Tilahun Haregu, African Population and Health Research Center and Peninah Masibo, African Population and Health Research Center
So-called lifestyle diseases such as cancer and heart disease have been rising in Africa, adding to the already huge burden of disease in poor countries. But the research has not kept pace.
The burden of communicable disease is declining in Africa and life expectancy is increasing. But non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer are wreaking havoc.
Metformin has been used to treat diabetes since the late 1950s. It is now on the World Health Organisation’s List of Essential Medicines needed for a basic health care system.
Recent reports claiming we need to do five times more exercise than we previously thought are incorrect. Current physical activity guidelines are enough to achieve health benefits.
When children work on their school assignments, unknown to them, the software they use is busy collecting data. These data are then used for individualized marketing of junk foods and other products.
We are seeing increasing numbers of young, slim children with type 2 diabetes. This means obesity and lifestyle factors may not be the whole story behind the disease’s rising rates.
Diabetes afflicts nearly 30 million people in the U.S., but 86 million more are pre-diabetic. There are effective ways to screen those people, too – and it isn’t all about fat.
People ending up in hospital for diabetes, tooth decay, or other conditions that should be treatable or manageable out of hospital is a warning sign of system failure.
Alexandra Hansen, The Conversation and Emil Jeyaratnam, The Conversation
This infographic provides a snapshot of children’s health in Australia, from mortality and chronic conditions to the risk factors adversely affecting our children’s health.
Almost three in four Australian children consume too much sugar, 91.5% of young people don’t get enough exercise, and we’re among the most obese people in the world.
Genomic research must take place in Africa because African populations have evolved significantly and their genetic composition is more diverse than that of populations elsewhere.
Merlin Thomas, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute and Paul Zimmet, Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Diabetes is a leading cause of death as well as of heart attacks, strokes, amputations, kidney failure, depression and severe infections – all of which themselves contribute to premature death.
In many rural areas, poor people are suffering from malnutrition, which takes the form of stunting and obesity. To change this, their food environments must change.
Professor and Programme Director, SA MRC Centre for Health Economics and Decision Science - PRICELESS SA (Priority Cost Effective Lessons in Systems Strengthening South Africa), University of the Witwatersrand