Small Island States in Crisis: The Economic Impact of Lifestyle Diseases in the South Pacific (Clinical Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Public health concerns in the South Pacific region in recent years have shifted from the prevention and control of infectious diseases to dealing with the increasingly prevalent problem of non-communicable disease (NCD) or what has been termed lifestyle illnesses. Improved living standards have resulted in increased consumption of high fat diets and increased use of alcohol and tobacco. Epidemiological research has firmly established a relationship between these consequences of higher living standards and ill health. (2)