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Chronic Disease Prevention and the New Public Health

Public Health Reviews volume 32, pages 120–154 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

Chronic diseases are the major causes of morbidity and mortality across the globe in developed and developing countries, and in countries transitioning from former socialist status. Chronic diseases — including heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory diseases — share major risk factors beyond genetics and social inequalities including tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and lack of access to preventive care. There are evidence-based interventions that are effective in modifying these risks and subsequently preventing disease. Evidence for prevention is strongest for measures aimed at reducing tobacco use and increasing physical activity, while large gaps remain in our knowledge about how to effectively change eating habits and achieve healthy weights in a population. The New Public Health addresses interventions delivered at three levels: 1) at the level of society, where public policy and governmental interventions can change the environment, as well as individual behavior (e.g., regulation of tobacco products and food composition, taxation, redesigning the built environment, banning advertising); 2) at the level of the community, through the activities of local institutions delivered at the population level (e.g., school-based and workplace health promotion, community education, training, and public awareness campaigns); and 3) at the level of the individual, through the provision of clinical preventive services including screening, counselling, chemoprophylaxis, and immunizations (in recognition of the growing evidence that infections cause important chronic diseases). We conclude with a discussion of comprehensive national and international efforts needed to stem the tide of the growing global burden of chronic disease.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Health and Public Policy Studies, School Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA

    Helen Ann Halpin PhD, ScM (Professor and Director)

  2. Unit of Public Health and Environmental Care, Department of Preventive Medicine, University of Valencia, Valencia, USA

    Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela MD, PhD, PhM

  3. CIBER — Epidemiology and Public Health Spain, Spain

    Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela MD, PhD, PhM

  4. Research Foundation, University Hospital Dr. Peset, Valencia, Spain

    Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela MD, PhD, PhM

  5. Medical School, University of Valencia, Spain

    José M. Martin-Moreno MD, MPH, DrPH (Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Senior Strategic Adviser)

  6. World Health Organization-Regional Office for Europe, Spain

    José M. Martin-Moreno MD, MPH, DrPH (Professor of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Senior Strategic Adviser)

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  1. Helen Ann Halpin PhD, ScM
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  2. Maria M. Morales-Suárez-Varela MD, PhD, PhM
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  3. José M. Martin-Moreno MD, MPH, DrPH
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Correspondence to Helen Ann Halpin PhD, ScM.

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Halpin, H.A., Morales-Suárez-Varela, M.M. & Martin-Moreno, J.M. Chronic Disease Prevention and the New Public Health. Public Health Rev 32, 120–154 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03391595

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Key Words

  • chronic diseases
  • European health
  • prevention
  • New Public Health
  • health promotion
  • public policy
  • preventive care
  • risk factors
  • tobacco
  • diet
  • physical activity
  • obesity
  • heart disease
  • cancer
  • stroke
  • diabetes
  • screening
  • chemoprophylaxis
  • immunizations

Public Health Reviews

ISSN: 2107-6952

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