The 21st century is now faced with diseases like diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), obesity and heart disease. Many may wonder what causes these diseases especially since there is usually no infection in the body, and yet these diseases occur. It has been discovered this happens because of the defective lifestyle that we follow. A lifestyle is the pattern of living that we follow - how we work, what and when we eat, how and when we sleep, how much physical activity we partake in and whether we smoke or consume alcohol (Home Science in Daily Life). .
Lifestyle diseases (LD) also sometimes interchangeably called disease of civilization or disease of longevity, are diseases that appear to increase in frequency as countries become more industrialized and people live longer (Martin 2011). They are those health complications that appear to increase in frequency as countries become more industrialized, they are chronic (long term) in nature and do not result from an acute (short term) infection nor do they spread from one person to the other (noncommunicable). People are predisposed to various diseases based on their way of living and habits and LD characterize those diseases whose occurrence is primarily based on daily habits of people and are a result of an inappropriate relationship of people with their environment. LD are commonly encountered in developed countries where people live longer and they do not develop suddenly, its onset is gradual, could take years to develop and once encountered may not be cured easily. They develop relatively over long periods, in the beginning there may not be any symptoms or the symptoms may not be recognizable but after the disease sets in there may be a long period of impaired health and they could ultimately lead to death. .
LD appear in frequency as people live longer, especially if the risk factors include behavioural choices like a sedentary lifestyle or a diet high in unhealthy foods such as refined carbohydrates, trans-fats, or alcoholic beverages.