Two surveys paint a shocking picture of how East Africans are exposing themselves to the mounting risks of non-communicable diseases.

People who smoke and drink too much, don’t exercise and eat unhealthily are likely to suffer from non-communicable diseases, such as heart disease.

Doctors can get patients to take better care of themselves by setting a good, healthy example.

Almost half of SA’s adults are too fat. The health risks are huge: heart-related illness, often triggered by obesity, is the second-biggest killer.

World Health report says non-communicable diseases are the ‘leading threats to human health’. Belinda Beresford reports.