Diseases Of Affluence

Diseases of affluence

Diseases of affluence are those diseases which are thought to be a result of increasing wealth in a society, in contrast to diseases of poverty which result from impoverishment.

List as many diseases of affluence you can think of. Try to link a cause to each named example.

Examples of diseases of affluence include: type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, obesity, certain forms of cancer, asthma, alcoholism, depression, and allergies, as well as a major range of other psychiatric illnesses.

These diseases are categorized as non-communicable diseases, whereas the diseases of poverty tend to be largely communicable either through infection, inadequate safety or environmental health regulations, or poor hygiene.

Easy accessibility in society to large amounts of low-cost food (relative to the much-lower caloric food availability in a subsistence economy)

More food generally, with much less physical exertion expended to obtain a moderate amount of food

More high fat and high sugar foods in the diet are common in the affluent developed economies of the late-twentieth century

More foods which are processed, cooked, and commercially provided (rather than seasonal, fresh foods prepared locally at time of eating)

There are a number of reasons why affluence brings ill-health. One of the most important is lack of exercise. People in tertiary sector jobs are desk-bound and commute long distances by car or public transport, rather than walk. Longer hours and longer distances to commute also mean less time to cook healthy food. Fast food or convenience food, the consumption of much more food than can be used , and less movement all set people up for obesity, high blood pressure, and general poor fitness. Obesity in particular is thought to increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes and some kinds of cancer

There are other factors in making people susceptible to diseases of affluence. Less exposure to pathogens and agents of infection from infancy on, and greater reliance on medication and antibiotics leave people with lower natural immunity than is usual, while longer lifespans inevitably increase the rate of old-age diseases. The conditions are ideal for the development of allergies, autoimmune diseases and asthma, among others.

Finally, more stress, longer work hours, and weakened social bonds resulting from independant housing, less leisure time and more car time, make alcohol, cigarettes and the like a common habit that often borders on substance abuse. Depression and other psychiatric disorders thrive, or are at least diagnosed more often.

Traditionally, diseases of affluence have been thought to be more prevalant in developed countries but in the last ten years there has been a spike in numbers for virtually all in fast-growing developing countries such as China and India. In addition, in many developed countries the incidence of diseaes of affluence like obesity, diabetes, and heart disease and some cancers are ironically higher among the poorest section of society. Food is abundant and cheap, but of such poor quality as to have minimal nutrition.

Public health experts and sociologists now suggest that the reduced risk of diseases of poverty – communicable, water- and food-borne diseases like tuberculosis, typhoid, malaria, and infections – does not adequately compensate for the increased social cost as well as morbidity rates due to diseases of development or affluence. Others say the entire paradigm needs to be revisited, because of the medicalisation of society and individuals' problems.