13/10/2022
Today, many of us have access to what we want, when we want it, and we may not consider long-term consequences when we're thinking of instant gratification. Many Americans know what makes up a healthy diet, yet most fail to put this knowledge into action. While ignorance and confusion may play a part in changing dietary behaviors, the motivation to change is likely much more important.
Before people can change their dietary behaviors, they need to see the need for change. The general public has an "optimistic bias" towards believing they are at less risk than others for chronic disease and, as a result, may dismiss advice to eat more healthfully because they think they are already eating more healthfully. In fact, researchers found that people rated their own eating behavior as healthier on average even when their actual habits were terrible.
But, wait. Donβt chronic diseases, such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer, just run in the family? What if you just have bad genes? There is an overwhelming body of evidence that shows the dramatic impact healthy lifestyle behaviors can have on reducing all-cause mortalityβmeaning death from all causes put togetherβand preventing chronic diseases.
For many chronic diseases, non-genetic factors often account for at least 80 to 90 percent of risk. Modifiable risk factors, such as diet, weight, activity, and smoking status, account for more than 70 percent of your risk of having a stroke or getting colon cancer, more than 80 percent of coronary heart disease risk, and more than 90 percent of risk for type 2 diabetes. In an oft-cited paper, using identical twins to see how much chronic disease was really in your genes, cancers were found to have the lowest genetic component, with only about 10 percent attributable to bad genes. We have the power to prevent major chronic diseases with our lifestyle.
What about people who already have chronic diseases? As health professionals, we should try to guide patients from feeling a sense of guilt to feeling a sense of agency. We can help our patients see that they still have personal control and can still make different choices from then on.
To learn more and see study reference, see the following videos:
"Why Donβt People Eat Healthier?" at https://bit.ly/3MjyEAz
"Lifestyle and Disease Prevention: Your DNA Is Not Your Destiny" at https://bit.ly/3lcJ5u8
