Global Graying, Nutrition, and Disease Prevention: An Update on China and Future Priorities
In accompaniment with a rapidly increasing proportion of older adults (global graying), the worldwide trend is toward illness and death due to chronic diseases rather than infectious ones.China has one of the most rapidly “graying” populations of any country in the world and is, at the same time, progressing toward a wealthier economy.With its growing affluence, the Chinese population has also begun to experience dramatic increases in the incidence and prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases, highlighting the critical need for behavioral interventions for the diseases of old age that may be modulated by nutrition.One of the most effective strategies for promoting global health would be one that guides countries that are emerging to a more affluent status toward healthy diet and exercise patterns. In accompaniment with a rapidly increasing proportion of older adults (global graying), the worldwide trend is toward illness and death due to chronic diseases rather than infectious ones. China has one of the most rapidly “graying” populations of any country in the world and is, at the same time, progressing toward a wealthier economy. With its growing affluence, the Chinese population has also begun to experience dramatic increases in the incidence and prevalence of diet-related chronic diseases, highlighting the critical need for behavioral interventions for the diseases of old age that may be modulated by nutrition. One of the most effective strategies for promoting global health would be one that guides countries that are emerging to a more affluent status toward healthy diet and exercise patterns.
