Involving the Patient: Three Designs to Improve Health

Mobilizing the patient: Lifestyle diseases call for user oriented design Lifestyle diseases account for more than 60 percent of all deaths worldwide. And in Western countries they take up the majority of health expenditure. Nevertheless, health care systems have been slow and reluctantly to face up to dealing with this challenge. The treatment and prevention of chronic diseases requires much more attention to individual needs - an approach that can increase the chances of success by mobilizing the patient’s own resources. And an approach shared by three new inventions designed to deal with mental illness, high blood pressure and obesity. Obesity is a major growing health problem. Professor, MD Arne Astrup suggests a new approach is due.