In Singapore and around the world, sedentary lifestyles and diets rich in processed and energy-dense foods, coupled with longer lifespans, put individuals and populations at high risk of developing chronic diseases. Our national burden of disease is increasingly shifting towards long-term conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular illness. In these circumstances it becomes increasingly important to address unhealthy lifestyles in order to prevent chronic diseases and manage them once they are established.
Preventing long-term conditions from developing in healthy members of the public is crucial for maintaining the best quality of life for individuals and also sustaining a healthy population and an active workforce. In order to prevent long-term conditions, it is important to understand how people perceive wellness and illness, and the behaviours associated with good health. We also need to develop widely accessible approaches to identify those at risk of a chronic disease, and then to encourage appropriate active living and healthy diet. The three programmes outlined here describe some of the research at CDPM aimed at preventing chronic diseases.
