Recent research paints a grim picture of the state of obesity and life expectancy around the world, showing stark inequities between developed and developing nations. Since 1980, Ghana has experienced an exorbitant 650% increase in obesity rates. At the same time, Britain’s diet industry is booming, with the annual profits of this industry pegged at £2 billion. In sharp contrast, Japan’s diet industry promotes a much healthier population with much lower obesity rates and far superior health outcomes.
The increasing obesity prevalence in Ghana shows that there is an emerging public health problem. As the nation’s leaders are trying to turn this tide, the rise is very real and very alarming. Key drivers of this increase are shifting diets and physical activity patterns due to urbanization and globalization.
Back here in Britain, the diet industry is booming, worth £2 billion. This staggering number is a clear testament to our nation’s war with obesity—over 93 million adults are looking for ways to address their weight. In fact, recent figures show that obesity prevalence in the UK is more than three times that of Japan. The Japanese owe their healthy, long lives in part to a diet rich in mostly plant foods.
Japan serves as a shining example of what a healthy lifestyle can achieve. The country’s well-documented low rates of breast and prostate cancer—80% less than North Americans—along with half the risk of hip fractures, highlight a striking contrast to Western health statistics. These results are usually credited to healthy eating habits that focus on plants, playing an important role in higher life expectancy.
At the same time, average Spanish life expectancy in the 16th century was just 25 to 30 years. Now that standard has shifted radically. According to the latest figures, there’s been a dramatic reversal in fortunes with life expectancy in this new Britain now falling by half a year. On the other hand, life expectancy in the United States has decreased by 2.33 years, which is sending shockwaves among health experts.
Many other factors play a role in achieving longer, healthier lives—not diet alone. A stable government, successful public services, advances in science and technology, and an engaged citizenry are equally important in improving the quality of life. Greater availability and affordability of these foods are key to helping Americans achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Further, healthy school meals supported by federal programs are central to protecting health.
To encourage a long life, researchers recommend some key lifestyle habits. Science shows that sleeping between seven and nine hours per night has a major impact on one’s health and longevity. Regular exposure to natural light is advocated to further enhance health benefits.
Prof Devi Sridhar states, “How Not to Die (Too Soon)” highlights the importance of understanding how lifestyle choices impact health outcomes globally.