Why is unhealthy lifestyle becoming a global problem again?

There is an increasing number of people around the world who, despite efforts to promote healthy living, suffer from a lack of exercise, bad habits, and an unbalanced diet. This unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle has many negative effects on the body and can significantly reduce a person's quality of life. The rise in unhealthy lifestyles and their global impact are in the spotlight of the new issue of trendletters, produced as part of a joint project of the Human Capital Multidisciplinary Research Center and the UNESCO Futures Studies Chair (UNESCO Futures Literacy Chairs network).

For reference: This series of trendsetters continues the practice of publishing reviews of global technological trends since 2014 and presents a unique database of global trends and challenges in the field of human development. This research of the HSE ISSEK is based on the results of iFORA Big Data System, the Delphi survey (with the participation of more than 400 leading foreign and Russian scientists), expert sessions and interviews.

Despite the increasing number of people who are aware of their health, more than a quarter of the world's population still suffers from physical inactivity. In developed countries, this figure is even higher. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the situation, with places for sports and outdoor activities being closed. Physical activity has the potential to save up to 5 million lives annually, and moderate-intensity exercise (only 2.5 hours per week) could reduce mortality by around 10%.

An unbalanced diet is one of the main factors negatively affecting human health. The diet of modern people increasingly includes processed and industrial products, excessive amounts of salt and sugar. Each year, 1.7 million people die from excessive salt intake (more than 5 grams per day), and 500,000 people die from industrially produced trans fatty acids. On average, the average person on Earth consumes 59 grams of sugar each day (with a World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation of no more than 25 grams per day). If the daily sugar intake exceeds 25%, the chance of death from cardiovascular disease doubles, and the risk of type 2 diabetes increases. By 2025, 42% of the world population is expected to be overweight.

A significant proportion of the population resorts to destructive stress management practices (excessive use of gadgets, smoking, alcohol consumption, etc.).

The total economic damage from smoking, including health care costs and losses from reduced labor productivity, is about $1.4 trillion per year, equivalent to 1.8% of global GDP. As a result of excessive alcohol consumption, up to 3 million people die annually (5.3% of the total mortality). In many countries, advertising of products harmful to health is prohibited, there are "tobacco-free zones" in public places, and a healthy lifestyle is being promoted.

The new issue of trendletter (Russian version) is available at thelink.

Previous issues of trendletters can be found here.