Workshop For Maynooth Students, 11th & 12th December 2007

Lifestyle: The Issue

The Irish lifestyle, in common with that of many other Western nations, has deteriorated radically in recent years. In Ireland, childhood obesity levels are at an all time high, and cardiovascular disease, which begins in childhood, kills 4 in every 10 Irish adults. Lifestyle related cancers are common in Ireland, with 25% of all deaths being due to cancer. The incidence of type II diabetes in young adults is on the increase. These chronic illnesses are heavily influenced by lifestyle, with poor eating habits and physical inactivity having a huge effect upon health. Heart Disease doesn't just happen overnight, it takes decades of poor lifestyle habits to develop and has it's roots in childhood.

There is ample evidence linking these illnesses to social deprivation. Globally, the trend is for worsened health as people in the developing world adopt unhealthy "Western" dietary habits.

Chronic Disease: The Global Epidemic

Chronic diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancer and diabetes, are by far the leading cause of mortality worldwide, representing 60% of all deaths (see WHO for more information).

Simple lifestyle changes have huge significance in terms of quality of life, life expectancy, and even academic performance. Prevention is a far more effective strategy than treatment. Given that lifestyle habits are learned in childhood, this issue has huge relevance for young people, and those working with young people. Furthermore, quite apart from health concerns, poor lifestyle habits affect academic performance and contribute to behavioural difficulties like ADHD.

What do we mean by Lifestyle?

This workshop focuses primarily on food issues, but you should be aware that poor lifestyle habits are often cumulative. For example, the teenager who has a TV in their bedroom and stays awake till 2 am watching movies may be too tired to eat a decent breakfast before school in the morning (our research suggests that in some Irish secondary schools up to 40% of students skip breakfast on a regular basis).

Lifestyle and the Developing World

Lifestyle changes are occurring at a faster pace, and there are less resources available to deal with the issue compared with the developed world. There are fewer restrictions on what products food and drink companies can dump into the developing world. There are less restrictions on how they market and advertise those products.

A paradoxical situation is arising whereby diseases of malnutrition exist side-by-side with diseases of over consumption, as traditional dietary patterns are eroded. People in the developing world are moving towards a "Western" style diet that typically consists of cheap, highly processed foods that are energy-rich and nutrient-poor. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 66% of deaths from chronic disease (heart disease, cancer etc) occurs in the developing world, where those suffering tend to be younger on average than those affected in the developed world.

When the best resourced health systems in the world can't get it right, what hope is there for developing countries? On the other hand, at least in developing countries there is a chance to influence policy decisions as they are being created rather than waiting until its too late.

According to the WHO:

"A profound shift in the balance of the major causes of death and disease has already occurred in developed countries and is under way in many developing countries. Globally, the burden of noncommunicable diseases has rapidly increased. In 2001 noncommunicable diseases accounted for almost 60% of the 56 million deaths annually and 47% of the global burden of disease."

Source: Global Strategy on Diet, Physical Activity and Health, WHO, 2004

WHO evidence suggests that patterns of unhealthy behaviour and related chronic illnesses are worse in poorer communities and contribute to social and economic inequalities. Research carried out in Ireland by RedBranch certainly supports this view.

Situation in Irish Schools

Many secondary schools sell carbonated soft drinks, crisps and chocolate bars to students, often in very large quantities. Where schools have canteens, these often sell a high proportion of junk food. Teachers are often placed in the bizarre situation where they have to teach about healthy diet during SPHE, even though the only food available in school is junk food. For more information, see our food in schools page.

Sources:

Report of the National Taskforce on Obesity (2005);National Childrens Food Survey (2005); National Health and Lifestyle Report (2003); Our Children Their Future Why Weight? HSE Southern Area Report, (2005); RedBranch School Lifestyle Surveys (2004-2007).

What is Required?

A shift in dietary patterns is required, with a reduction in saturated fats, sugar and salt. An increase in fruit and vegetable consumption is also warranted.

This could be achieved by:

The food shown above was brought to school by an eight year old child at an Irish National School surveyed by RedBranch. This is not a healthy school lunch!

In common with children the world over, Irish children are under sustained pressure from commercial interests. The advert shown above, which promotes an unhealthy lifestyle choice, is situated in a Leisure Centre next door to a secondary school.

Seventy five percent of Irish people believe they are healthy. The Irish are a nation of optimists! Deaths from cancer in Ireland are well above average: 5, 173 deaths in 1968, rising to 7,493 in 1998 (source: CSO). Breast cancer is on the increase...28% of all cancers are breast cancer, and breast cancer is now the second most common cancer in Ireland. Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer related death in women. Colorectal, prostate and lung cancer rates are also very high. Lifestyle can affect your risk of these and other diseases. Breast cancer risk is directly affected by diet and level of physical activity.