| Summary: |
Over
the
last
several
decades,
an
epidemic
of
“lifestyle
diseasesâ€
has
developed
in
the
United
States:
Unhealthy
lifestyles,
such
as
inactivity,
poor
nutrition,
tobacco
use,
and
frequent
alcohol
consumption,
are
driving
up
the
prevalence
of
chronic
disease,
such
as
diabetes,
heart
disease,
and
chronic
pulmonary
conditions.
These
chronic
conditions
have
become
a
major
burden,
as
they
lead
to
decreased
quality
of
life,
premature
death
and
disability,
and
increased
health
care
cost.
Furthermore,
although
chronic
disease
was
once
thought
to
be
a
problem
of
older
age
groups,
there
is
a
shift
toward
onset
during
Americans’
working
age
that
adds
to
the
economic
burden,
because
of
illness-Ââ€related
loss
of
productivity
due
to
absence
from
work
(absenteeism)
and
reduced
performance
while
at
work
(presenteeism).
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