ARTICLE-Is Prevention a Fantasy or.......

[Tamar Knox]

This Medscape article focusses on clinical prevention versus population-based prevention this is the focus of most obesity prevention efforts.  The article suggests that preventive medicine is useful in meeting the larger public health goals of wellness at all levels; however,the article suggests that the term primordial prevention be applied to efforts to get patients to lead healthier lifestyles. 

 

Primordial prevention begins to get close to environmental interventions targeting obesty.  Primordial preventino was "in" in the 1980s.  But it has fallen by the waysdide.  It may be useful to pair primordial prevention concept with environmental approaches to prevention.

 

"Available data indicate that only a modest fraction of the total cardiovascular risk burden in the population is actually now being eliminated. A fresh view of these issues, a change in current philosophy, leading to new and different, multimechanistic methods of prevention may be needed. Adherence to published guidelines will improve substantially outcomes in both primary and secondary prevention. Primordial prevention, which does not allow risk values to appear in a population, affords more complete protection than subsequent partial reversal of elevated risk factors or biomarkers. Current evidence supports recent calls for massive educational programs supporting primordial prevention, individual responsibility and pride in achieving population-wide ideal cardiovascular health through lifestyle modification. Environmental and social changes will be necessary, along with major supportive adjustments in the food industry and the assistance of the media. Cooperation is critical to the success of such an initiative."   Quote from article by Richard Kones, MD

 

ARTICLE-Medscape-Is%20Prevention%20a%20Fantasy%20or%20the%20Future%...