WLT focuses on young adults in the early (18–25), middle (26–32), and late (33–39) stages.WLT assumes that if young adults intentionally adopt, maintain, and continue a healthy lifestyle in the early years of life, they increase their likelihood of preventing non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and diabetes in the later years of life, thereby improving their health, well-being, and quality of life.
According to Budreviciute A, Damiati S, et al. (2020), non-communicable diseases (NCDs), also known as chronic diseases, are medical conditions characterized by long duration and slow progression. Most NCDs are non-infectious and result from genetic, physiological, behavioral, and environmental factors. ” Chronic diseases are defined broadly as conditions that last 1 year or more and require ongoing medical attention, limit activities of daily living, or both.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO: Key facts 2025), “Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) killed at least 43 million people in 2021, equivalent to 75% of non-pandemic-related deaths globally. In 2021, 18 million people died from an NCD before age 70 years; 82% of these premature deaths occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Cardiovascular diseases account for most NCD deaths, or at least 19 million deaths in 2021, followed by cancers (10 million), chronic respiratory diseases (4 million), and diabetes (over 2 million, including kidney disease deaths caused by diabetes). These four groups of diseases account for 80% of all premature NCD deaths.
“Three in four American adults have at least one chronic condition, and over half have two or more chronic conditions. Among younger adults ages 18–34, 60% have at least one condition. Among midlife adults ages 35–64, more than 75% have at least one condition…Chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.” (cdc.gov/chronic diseases)
The main types of NCDs are cardiovascular diseases (such as heart attacks and stroke), cancers, chronic respiratory diseases (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma), and diabetes. (WHO: NCDs,2025)
Cancer is a disease in which cells divide uncontrollably and spread or metastasize to other parts of the body through the blood and lymphatic systems. Far-reaching metastasis is the primary cause of death from cancer.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO/Fact sheet/cancer 2025), cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, or nearly one in six deaths. The most common cancer incidence in 2020 was: breast (2.26 million cases); lung (2.21 million cases); colon and rectum (1.93 million cases); prostate (1.41 million cases); skin (non-melanoma) (1.20 million cases); stomach (1.09 million cases). The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were: lung (1.80 million deaths); colon and rectum (916,000 deaths); liver (830,000 deaths); stomach (769,000 deaths); and breast (685,000 deaths).
According to the National Cancer Institute (USA, 2025), the most common cancer incidence was Breast Cancer (Female): Highest incidence, with over 300,000 estimated new cases in 2023. Prostate Cancer (Male): Most common cancer among men, with over 313,000 estimated new cases in 2025.Lung & Bronchus Cancer: Leading cause of cancer death, causing over 120,000 deaths annually. Colorectal Cancer: The third most common cancer in both men and women, with over 150,000 new cases estimated in 2025.Melanoma & Other Skin Cancers: Very high incidence, particularly among younger people. Top Causes of Cancer Death include Lung & Bronchus: Deadliest cancer, Colorectal: High mortality, increasing in younger people, Pancreatic: High mortality rate. Breast (Female): The second leading cause of death in women.
Studies show that “Cancer shares common risk factors with other key diseases of NCDs, and several identified and unidentified factors can be attributed to cancer. The causes of cancer can be classified into three categories, including: (i) biological carcinogens (e.g., viral, bacterial, or parasitic infections, hormonal and genetic factors); (ii) chemical carcinogens (such as food and water contamination, and tobacco smoking); and (iii) physical carcinogens (such as ultraviolet and ionizing radiation). However, tobacco smoking is the main cause of cancer, followed by poor diets. Moreover, together, body weight and physical inactivity are associated with the most common cancers, including breast (postmenopausal), colon, endometrium, kidney, and esophagus cancer. Lung cancer, which is the most common cancer in the world, is mainly the result of smoking, and the risk increases in heavy smokers. Furthermore, several studies have reported low intakes of fruits, vegetables, and related nutrients among patients with lung cancer. Hence, it is possible to prevent lung cancer by reducing the prevalence of smoking and by increasing fruit and vegetable consumption. Furthermore, dietary habits and physical activity contribute to breast cancer, which is the second most common cancer in the world.”
Prevention refers to measures taken to stop adverse health events from developing or to detect them early, preventing their progression. There are four known levels of prevention: primordial, primary, secondary, and tertiary. WLT focuses more on primordial and primary prevention. Primordial prevention is the set of measures taken to stop risk factors for adverse health events from developing in a healthy individual. It focuses on social, economic, and environmental determinants of health. Primordial prevention addresses the root causes of disease. Primary prevention is the set of measures taken to prevent the onset of disease in a healthy individual. Primary prevention focuses on reducing risk and increasing resistance. It emphasizes health education and smoking cessation among young adults. Secondary prevention focuses on early detection and treatment of preclinical diseases. It aims to halt or slow disease progression. Tertiary prevention reduces complications and disability after disease onset. It focuses on improving the quality of life and preventing further deterioration.
As stated before, “Among younger adults ages 18–34, 60% have at least one condition, and among midlife adults ages 35–64, more than 75% have at least one condition.” WLT provides young adults with opportunities to intentionally adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle that prevents the development of risk factors for adverse health events. It also prevents disease onset in healthy individuals.
We define a healthy lifestyle as a way of living that individuals intentionally adopt, maintain, and practice daily to prevent and control disease, improve their physical, mental, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being, and enhance their quality of life.
Adopting, maintaining, and continually making healthy choices for a healthy lifestyle requires behavioral change. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM,2001), “Behavior can be changed, and those changes can influence health. However, “Initiating and maintaining behavior change is complex and difficult” (Pellmar, Brandt, and Baird, 2002). According to DiClemente et al (2019), “Before behaviors can change, the determinant(s) of behavior, the nature of the behavior, and motivation for the behavior must be understood.” There are several behaviors change theories and models that can be applied at multiple levels of influence on human behavior, using a socioecological approach: which states that “human behavior shapes and is shaped by multiple levels of influences.” Such levels of influence include intrapersonal (individual), interpersonal (family, friends, peer groups), organizational, community, and public policy.
WLT provides the fundamental truth, rooted in God’s word, for behavior change that promises benefits in this life and in the life to come. This truth brings profound change to individuals’ hearts and minds, transforming their character, behavior, attitudes, beliefs, and knowledge, enabling them to intentionally adopt, maintain, and continually make healthy daily choices. When individuals adopt a healthy lifestyle, they serve as a model for other family members, including children, and for the broader community. Many diseases, injuries, disabilities, and premature deaths from heart diseases, strokes, cancers, and diabetes can be prevented or reduced with behavior change.
A healthy lifestyle includes the following:
Each component of the healthy lifestyle has already been discussed on this website.
Follow us on our website, blog, and social media platforms, and at conferences, seminars, workshops, community spiritual well-being events, as we tailor healthy lifestyles to reduce cancer risk factors and prevent the onset of CVDs in healthy individuals.