Dr. Donald R. Dengel, professor in the School of Kinesiology and director of the Laboratory of Integrative Human Physiology, is a co-author of an article recently published online in European Heart Journal. The article/policy statement by a coalition of the world’s leading doctors and scientists working in cardiology and preventive medicine is a call to action to tackle the global problem of deaths from non-communicable diseases (NCDs) through healthy lifestyle (HL) initiatives. NCDs, such as heart problems, diabetes and cancer, may be preventable by reducing risk factors related to lifestyle such as cigarette smoking, obesity, poor nutrition, and physical inactivity.

“The goal of this American Heart Association/European Society of Cardiology/European Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation/American College of Preventive Medicine policy statement is to define key stakeholders and highlight their connectivity with respect to HL initiatives,” the abstract states. “This policy encourages integrated action by all stakeholders to create the needed paradigm shift and achieve broad adoption of HL behaviors on a global scale.”

The article was also featured online in Mayo Clinic Proceedings and is available here.