Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol… These diseases caused in particular by a diet that is too rich and not sufficiently balanced are causing more and more victims around the world.
Obesity: 3 million deaths / year
An international study “Global Burden of Disease” carried out in 187 countries and started in 1990 has just disclosed its results on health in the world.
In the ranking of the causes of mortality, we find in first place thearterial hypertension with 9 million deaths. A diet that is too salty and not rich enough in fruits and vegetables is one of the main risk factors for this cardiovascular disorder. In 2e place we find the tobacco with 6.3 million deaths followed in 3e place of the alcohol with 4.9 million deaths. This “winning” trio varies according to the zones. Smoking is thus the leading cause of death in North America and Western Europe.
THE’obesity and being overweight are the risk factors for death with the highest increase. With more than 3 million deaths per year, they pass to the 6e ranking place. In contrast, the lack of food causes “only” 1 million deaths.
Rising life expectancy
With regard to non-communicable diseases, cancers rose 38% from 5.8 million deaths to 8 million. Cardiovascular diseases represent one death over 4 years in 2010 compared to one in five in 1990.
Despite everything, on the positive side, life expectancy continues to increase globally and infant mortality has fallen by 60%. In 2010, women live on average to 73.3 years and 67.5 years for men. The record for women is held by Japanese women with 86 years of life expectancy. Among men, Icelanders are in first place with 73.3 years.