Our Research Focus
Health economics driving change
The most serious diseases affecting health and well-being of mankind today include diabetes, obesity; cardiovascular, neurological and inflammatory disorders, as well as certain cancers. Increased life expectancy in industrialised countries and the increasing adoption of the Western lifestyle in developing countries goes hand-in-hand with the epidemic progression of chronic multi-factorial diseases associated with ageing. However, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) up to 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes could be prevented by eliminating shared risk factors that are resulting from unhealthy lifestyle.
The overall goal of the Nestlé Institute of Health Sciences is to develop the scientific base for personalised health science nutrition for individual prevention and maintenance of a healthier life.
Diabetes
- More than 220 million people worldwide today have diabetes1
- Diabetes causes about five per cent of all deaths globally each year2
- More than eighty per cent of diabetes-related deaths occur in low and middle income countries1
- Most people with diabetes in low and middle income countries are middle-aged (45-64), rather than elderly (65+)2
- Diabetes-associated deaths will double by 20301
Obesity
- Once associated with developed countries, obesity is now also prevalent in developing countries.
- An estimated 1.46 billion adults worldwide are overweight3
- At least 500 million adults are obese3
- Three million people each year die as a result of obesity3 and associated comorbidities
- According to WHO projections, approximately 2.3 billion adults will be overweight and more than 700 million obese by 2015.3
Alzheimer’s Disease
- Alzheimer’s is a neurodegenerative disorder
- Today, 35 million people globally are affected by Alzheimer's disease4.
- From 2000 to 2006, Alzheimer’s disease-deaths increased by roughly 46 %.4
- The rate of occurrence of Alzheimer's disease doubles every five years for those between 65 and 85 years of age4, but if onset were delayed by five years, the number of cases worldwide would be halved.
Ageing
The WHO estimates the world's population aged 60 years or older to be 650 million. By 2050, the "greying" population is forecasted to reach two billion.
References
1) World Health Organisation Fact Sheet No312 Diabetes, Jan 2011
2) http://www.who.int/diabetes/en/
3) World Health Organisation Fact Sheet No311 Obesity, May 2012
4) Alzheimer's Disease International World Alzeheimer Report 2010
5) Population Division United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs World Population Ageing 2009; xxvi