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Sustainability in medicine: a case for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases

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Abstract

Chronic non-communicable diseases have increased worldwide, threatening not only the health of individuals but also social stability. Global studies have identified behavioral, environmental, and stress-related factors that account for a substantial amount of variance in these diseases. Identification of these relatively easy modifiable lifestyle factors holds great potential for the development of global prevention strategies in order to improve health and thereby promote economic, ecologic, and social sustainability worldwide.

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Acknowledgments

Preparation of this article was supported by grants from the Alexander-von-Humboldt Foundation, the German Academic Exchange Service, and the German Research Foundation (MA 155/75-1). I thank Edward Carpenter and Joanne Skirving for their helpful comments and assistance in the preparation of manuscript (JS).

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  1. Department of Biology, Romberg Tiburon Center, San Francisco State University, 3150 Paradise Drive, Tiburon, CA, 94920, USA

    Gerdi Weidner

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Correspondence to Gerdi Weidner.

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Weidner, G. Sustainability in medicine: a case for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases. Environmentalist 32, 353–359 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10669-011-9344-7

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