Physical activity and cardiovascular prevention: Is healthy urban living a possible reality or utopia?

Abstract

Favoring correct lifestyles is the most important measure to contrast cardiovascular diseases and the epidemic of high cardiovascular risk conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, and hypertension. Lifestyle is a broad expression that includes diet, physical exercise, and psychological and socio-economic factors, each of which must be taken into due consideration because of their intertwining influences, which may be a barrier to healthy changes at both the individual and population levels. While physical activity has probably received less attention in the last decades, it is likely the most important among the modifiable risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Improving the habitual physical activity level is an achievable goal, and even small improvements may have important favorable effects on health. Strategies at the population level have to be urgently taken, and involve not only public health, but also administrators and politicians, starting from a rethinking of our cities.

Prevalence and severity of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by transient elastography: Genetic and metabolic risk factors in a general population

“…In particular, our cohort had limited differences with respect to those reported for the general population consisting of higher prevalence of female gender (+9%), married status (+15%) and education level (>9 years: +14%). However, we are confident that these factors may have hardly influenced the high prevalence of NAFLD observed in our cohort since they are rather well known protective metabolic and cardiovascular factors . Furthermore, this is a single centre study and our results may potentially have limited validity in different populations and settings.…”

“…A recent meta-analysis reported a prevalence of NAFLD of 23.7% in Europe, with rates ranging from in obesity prevalence, the main risk factor for NAFLD, especially in the southern part of Italy. 29 Studies conducted in northern European countries in the last few years have confirmed an increasing prevalence of NAFLD, ranging from 34% to 41%. 30,31 However, we cannot rule out that differences in methods used for diagnosing steatosis, or in CAP thresholds, could also contribute to explaining the observed differences.…”

“…However, we are confident that these factors may have hardly influenced the high prevalence of NAFLD observed in our cohort since they are rather well known protective metabolic and cardiovascular factors. 29 Furthermore, this is a single centre study and our results may potentially have limited validity in different populations and settings. It is plausible that the influence of the proposed risk factors may change according to ethnic, demographic and metabolic characteristics of patients, and the prevalence of NAFLD and advanced fibrosis.…”

“…The unique previous population based survey on NAFLD in Italy dates back about 20 years, when Bedogni et al reported in the Dionysos study a prevalence of NAFLD of 22.5%. These differences might be due, at least in part, to the recent emerging increase in obesity prevalence, the main risk factor for NAFLD, especially in the southern part of Italy . Studies conducted in northern European countries in the last few years have confirmed an increasing prevalence of NAFLD, ranging from 34% to 41% .…”

<p>Endothelial Function in Obese Patients Treated with Bariatric Surgery</p>

“…Parallel to progressive urbanization, the prevalence of overweight/obesity is continuously rising 1 even among children and adolescents. 2 Therefore, obesity represents a real emergency in the Western world due to its association with many health problems among which reduced life expectancy, 3 compromised quality of life, 4 increased metabolic complications such as diabetes and cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality. 5 The global burden of obesity is also associated with high costs and represents a serious threat to the sustainability of health systems.…”