Forecast and Current Reality of Chronic Diseases in the United Kingdom
The Health in 2040 report by The Health Foundation, published in 2023 and updated with the latest population data from the Office for National Statistics in 2024, paints an alarming picture of the UK population’s health over the next two decades. By 2040, approximately 9.1 million adults in England are expected to be living with at least one major chronic disease, an increase of 2.5 million compared to 6.6 million in 2019. This figure represents nearly one-fifth of the adult population, up from nearly one-sixth currently, reflecting a 37% increase in the number of people with serious illnesses while the working-age population is projected to grow by only 4%. The increase is primarily driven by conditions such as anxiety and depression, chronic pain, and Type 2 diabetes—conditions mainly managed in the community and primary care rather than acute illnesses requiring hospitalization. Without robust intervention, this burden will push the NHS into more severe overcapacity, with treatment and long-term care costs skyrocketing amidst a rapidly aging population. Notably, regional disparities are stark: coastal and rural areas see higher rates of coronary heart disease due to age structure and poverty levels, while deprived urban areas record faster-rising rates of diabetes and obesity.
Data from the NHS England Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) 2024-25 shows the current situation is already deeply concerning. Recorded hypertension rates have reached 15.2%, depression 14.3%, and obesity 13.9%—with obesity seeing the sharpest year-on-year increase of 1.1 percentage points. Diabetes (all types) continues to rise in tandem with obesity, affecting approximately 4.9 million people according to 2024 NHS forecasting models, and could reach 1 in 8 adults by 2030. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) remains higher in older age groups and deprived areas, reflecting histories of smoking and pollution. Significantly, the rate of multimorbidity (≥2 chronic conditions) reached approximately 14.8% of the national population in 2020 and continues to rise, particularly among those over 70, where it exceeds 68%. These figures are not just dry statistics; they reflect daily reality: a typical older adult in a deprived area may face diabetes accompanied by hypertension and joint pain, leading to reduced labor capacity and greater dependence on the healthcare system.
The combination of an aging population and social inequality is exacerbating the situation. In the poorest areas, people are diagnosed with serious illnesses about 10 years earlier than in the wealthiest areas, according to supplemental analysis by the Health Foundation in 2024. For example, a 50-year-old patient in the most deprived decile is twice as likely to have multimorbidity as someone of the same age in the least deprived area. If this trend continues, by 2040, the number of working-age people (20–69 years old) living with serious illness will increase by 23% to 3.7 million, directly impacting economic productivity and the labor force. This is precisely why proactive solutions like remote monitoring and global nutritional counseling are more urgent than ever, helping shift from a reactive medical model to long-term prevention and management.
Definition and Common Types of Chronic Diseases
Chronic diseases are defined as health conditions that are long-lasting, slow-progressing, often not fully curable, and requiring lifelong management. They differ from acute illnesses in that they do not appear suddenly and then vanish, but rather accumulate damage over time, affecting multiple organs and body systems. In the UK, common chronic diseases include Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic respiratory diseases like COPD and asthma, obesity, chronic pain, osteoporosis, and mental disorders like depression and anxiety. These diseases often co-occur, forming multimorbidity—for instance, a diabetic patient may simultaneously suffer from hypertension and chronic kidney disease, complicating treatment and increasing complication risks.
Type 2 diabetes is the most prominent example of a chronic disease mechanism. It stems from insulin resistance, often caused by obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, leading to prolonged high blood sugar. According to NHS data, over 90% of diabetes cases in the UK are Type 2, and patients are typically diagnosed in their 40s or 50s but have had silent vascular damage for years prior. Hypertension, affecting 15.2% of the population according to QOF 2024-25, is the “silent killer” because it has few initial symptoms but causes damage to the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes if uncontrolled. Chronic respiratory diseases like COPD, more common in long-term smokers and polluted areas, gradually reduce lung function, leading to chronic shortness of breath and frequent exacerbations requiring hospitalization. Chronic pain and depression/anxiety, meanwhile, severely impact quality of life, making it difficult for patients to maintain employment and social activities.
The diversity of these chronic diseases requires a holistic approach rather than focusing on a single organ. For example, a 55-year-old patient with diabetes and COPD may simultaneously need to control blood sugar, blood pressure, and respiratory function, while also managing weight and mental health. Without coordination, patients easily fall into a vicious cycle: high blood sugar damages blood vessels, leading to cardiovascular issues, which then reduce physical activity, worsening the respiratory condition. Therefore, modern care models emphasize building multidisciplinary teams—including endocrinology, nutrition, respiratory, and psychology—to intervene early and comprehensively.
Main Causes and Risk Factors
The root causes of chronic disease in the UK primarily stem from a modern lifestyle combined with an aging population and social inequality. Diets high in calories, sugar, and saturated fats, low in vegetables, along with sedentary behavior are the leading factors resulting in obesity—currently affecting nearly a quarter of adults and rising rapidly among children. Smoking, though declining overall, remains high among the 25–59 age group and in deprived areas, contributing significantly to COPD and cardiovascular disease. Air pollution, especially in urban and former industrial areas, increases the risk of chronic respiratory issues and lung cancer. An aging population increases disease rates as cellular repair mechanisms decline with age, causing damage to accumulate faster.
Social inequality is a powerful amplifying factor. People living in the poorest areas have a higher risk of disease due to limited access to healthy food, prolonged economic stress, and poor living environments. For example, obesity rates in Year 6 children are twice as high in deprived areas compared to wealthy ones, leading to earlier onset of Type 2 diabetes. Chronic stress from unstable work or social isolation also contributes to depression, anxiety, and metabolic disorders. According to the Chief Medical Officer’s 2025 report, the gap between wealthy and poor areas in healthy life expectancy persists, with the poor living many more years in ill health.
Genetic and environmental factors also play a role, but lifestyle accounts for the largest proportion and is modifiable. A person with a family history of diabetes who maintains a healthy weight and exercises regularly can delay or avoid the disease entirely. Conversely, even someone without genetic factors can develop the disease if their lifestyle is poor. This is why global lifestyle intervention programs, combining personalized nutrition and remote monitoring, are proving effective in reducing risk by 30–50% in high-risk groups.
Biological Mechanisms of Progression and Cumulative Complications
Chronic diseases progress through mechanisms of chronic inflammation, metabolic disorders, and cumulative vascular damage over time. In Type 2 diabetes, prolonged high blood sugar causes protein glycation, triggering inflammation and oxidative stress, leading to microvascular damage (eyes, kidneys, nerves) and macrovascular damage (heart, brain). Every 1% increase in HbA1c increases the risk of microvascular complications by 37% and any complication by 21%, according to long-term data from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS). The “legacy effect” of the UKPDS showed that reducing HbA1c early from diagnosis brings benefits lasting 10–20 years later, even when blood sugar levels are equalized later on, proving the importance of timely intervention.
Hypertension damages the vascular endothelium, leading to atherosclerosis and heart failure. In COPD, chronic lung inflammation from smoke or pollution destroys alveoli, reducing gas exchange and increasing the burden on the right heart. Chronic pain often involves neuroinflammation and central sensitization, while depression is linked to HPA axis dysfunction and systemic inflammation. When diseases co-occur, mechanisms interact: diabetes worsens hypertension, COPD reduces blood oxygenation leading to cardiac stress, creating a pathological spiral.
Cumulative complications can take years to manifest clearly but have devastating consequences. An uncontrolled diabetic patient may suffer end-stage renal damage after 10–15 years or a stroke after 5–10 years. Therefore, Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) helps detect small changes in blood sugar or blood pressure early, allowing for timely adjustments before irreversible damage occurs.
Impact on Individuals, Society, and the Health System
For every individual living with a chronic disease, life changes profoundly and often irreversibly without timely intervention. A typical Type 2 diabetic patient with hypertension in their early 50s, like millions in the UK today, may wake up every morning with chronic fatigue, constant thirst, blurred vision, numbness in the limbs, and a persistent fear of cardiovascular complications, kidney failure, or amputation. They must retire earlier than planned because they no longer have the energy to work full-time, losing their primary income and falling into financial and emotional dependence on relatives. Many patients report feeling like they have “lost control of their lives,” no longer confident in social settings for fear of sudden hypoglycemia or shortness of breath while walking. According to the latest data from the Health Foundation in 2024, people with multimorbidity typically lose an additional 10–15 years of healthy life compared to peers of the same age without disease, and this gap is even wider among low-income groups. A long-term follow-up study showed that diabetic patients with hypertension have twice the risk of disability, leading to secondary depression and social isolation—a spiral that is very difficult to escape relying solely on traditional NHS clinic care.
Society also bears a heavy burden in terms of economics and manpower. Direct costs for diabetes have reached over £10.7 billion annually for the NHS (equivalent to 6% of the national health budget), of which £6.2 billion is due to preventable complications. Cardiovascular disease costs an additional £7–16 billion, COPD about £1.9 billion, and the total socio-economic burden from chronic diseases reaches hundreds of billions of pounds per year when accounting for lost productivity. By 2040, with an additional 2.5 million people suffering from serious illness, the 50–65 age group—the largest tax-contributing demographic—will be most severely affected. A 2025 macroeconomics report in ScienceDirect shows that if the prevalence of chronic disease is reduced by 20%, UK GDP could increase by 0.99% after 5 years and 1.51% after 10 years, primarily due to workers aged 50–65 staying in employment longer. Conversely, the current situation is forcing hundreds of thousands to retire early due to illness, increasing the social welfare burden and slowing economic growth.
The NHS healthcare system is facing unprecedented pressure. Multimorbid patients account for about 50% of hospital admissions, more than half of NHS costs, and three-quarters of primary care drug costs. Without changing the care model, the NHS budget will be so burdened that specialist waiting times could extend by many more months, service quality will decline, and healthcare staff will burn out. A prime example is a COPD patient in a deprived area: they often experience 3–4 repeat hospitalizations per year due to exacerbations, each costing an average of £5,000–£8,000, while occupying hospital beds that force other emergency cases to wait. According to an Asthma + Lung UK report, direct costs for chronic lung disease have reached £11 billion/year, and this condition is becoming more common in low-income groups due to limited access to preventative care. Without remote monitoring solutions and global expert consultation, the NHS will continue to spend billions of pounds annually treating consequences rather than preventing from the root.
Benefits of Good Control and Reducing Complications
Good control of chronic disease brings far-reaching benefits, not just in symptom reduction but by creating a positive domino effect lasting decades. According to 44-year follow-up data from the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) recently published, just a 1% reduction in HbA1c from the early stage of diagnosis brought a 17–31% reduction in myocardial infarction risk, a 10–27% reduction in all-cause mortality, and a 24–26% reduction in microvascular complication risk, even when HbA1c levels were equalized later between the tight-control and conventional groups. This is the “legacy effect”—what researchers call “metabolic memory”: damage from high blood sugar in the early years is etched into cells, but early control ensures benefits last a lifetime. A patient reducing HbA1c from 8.7% to 6.4% in the first 6 months not only reduces immediate complication risks but is protected for 15–20 years thereafter, even as age and other factors emerge.
Remote Patient Monitoring (RPM) combined with personalized nutrition is proving superior to conventional care. 2024–2025 studies within the NHS and internationally show that RPM helps reduce HbA1c by an average of 0.5–1.2%, stabilizes blood pressure, reduces hospitalizations by 19–41%, and readmissions by up to 76% in some heart failure/COPD programs. Patients not only live longer but live healthier: they maintain jobs, participate in social activities, reduce anxiety, and significantly increase their quality of life. Economic benefits are also clear: reducing chronic disease prevalence by 20% can increase GDP by 0.99% after 5 years and 1.51% after 10 years, while saving billions in NHS costs for complications. For individuals, this means less pain, fewer hospitalizations, lower out-of-pocket costs, and more years of independent living, free from dependence on relatives or the healthcare system.
RPM Solutions and Global Nutrition/Endocrinology Experts
Remote Patient Monitoring allows for the continuous tracking of vital indicators such as blood sugar via Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGM), blood pressure, heart rate, and oxygen saturation via wearable devices or mobile apps, automatically sending real-time data to a team of experts. Within the NHS, RPM programs are expanding rapidly for diabetes, hypertension, and COPD under the Long Term Plan, with hundreds of thousands of patients already participating and recording marked reductions in hospitalizations and improved disease control. When combined with nutritionists and endocrinologists from the US, Canada, and the EU via telehealth, patients receive low-glycemic meal plans and personalized exercise regimens based on actual real-time RPM data, helping achieve sustainable weight loss, stabilized blood sugar, and effective reduction of chronic inflammation far better than medication and scheduled check-ups alone.
Studies from 2024–2025 have proven that RPM combined with nutritional education significantly reduces HbA1c in Type 2 diabetic patients, especially when experts can adjust therapy immediately based on daily data. An endocrinologist from the US can instantly update to the latest ADA guidelines, while a Canadian nutritionist designs meal plans suited to UK culture but based on the latest scientific evidence. Patients no longer have to wait 3–6 months for an NHS specialist; instead, they receive feedback within 24–48 hours via a secure platform. This is the transition from a reactive medical model to proactive management, helping reduce complication risks by 30% as proven by the UKPDS, while saving long-term costs for both individuals and the health system.
StrongBody AI: Connection Platform and Personal Care Team
StrongBody AI at https://strongbody.ai is the only global platform directly connecting patients with hundreds of thousands of medical, nutrition, and endocrinology experts from the US, Canada, EU, UK, and many other countries, with tens of millions of active users. The system uses smart AI matching to instantly build a personalized Personal Care Team for each patient, including endocrinologists, clinical nutritionists, lifestyle coaches, and respiratory specialists—all selected based on medical profiles, preferences, and specific user goals. Patients submit daily RPM data (blood sugar, blood pressure, weight, steps), receiving feedback via B-Messenger with an AI Voice Translate feature supporting over 194 languages, allowing for natural conversations even if experts are in different time zones.
The platform ensures absolute safety with payments via Stripe and PayPal (escrow—funds are only released after the patient confirms satisfaction), fast withdrawals for experts in just 30 minutes, and the Active Message tool allowing experts to proactively reach suitable potential patients without spamming. UK patients can build a care team from the US, Canada, and Germany without leaving home, worrying about language barriers or time zones, saving thousands in travel costs and waiting time. A Personal Care Team is not just a list of names but a real relationship: each team member sends personalized greetings, monitors weekly progress, and continuously adjusts plans, creating a sense of being surrounded by people who truly care about your health.
Real Case Studies from UK Patients
Sarah, 52, living in Manchester, is an office worker of 25 years. In 2022, she was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes with an HbA1c of 8.7%, hypertension at 150/95 mmHg, and was 15 kg overweight. She was frequently so tired she had to take half-days off work, suffered constant thirst, blurred vision, and lived in fear of cardiovascular complications because her mother had a myocardial infarction due to diabetes. The NHS waiting list was 3–4 months; the doctor only prescribed metformin and advised her to “lose weight” without a specific plan. Sarah felt desperate and found StrongBody AI via the Multime AI app. In just 5 minutes of registration, the matching system introduced her to a US-based endocrinologist (Type 2 specialist) and a Canadian nutritionist. Sarah was guided to use a CGM through the program, submitting daily blood sugar data. The US endocrinologist analyzed the data, adjusted the metformin dose, and added a new medication via video consultation, while the Canadian nutritionist designed a low-glycemic meal plan suited to British tastes: replacing white rice with quinoa, adding more vegetables, lean protein, and reducing refined carbs from 250g to 80g/day. Sarah exercised 30 minutes daily guided by her team coach. After 6 months, her HbA1c dropped to 6.4%, she lost 11 kg, blood pressure stabilized under 130/80, her fatigue vanished, she slept better, and returned to full-time work. Sarah shared: “I feel like I have a private team of doctors monitoring me 24/7; I’m no longer afraid of complications.”
John, 58, from London, has had moderate-stage COPD and Type 2 diabetes since 2021. He often felt short of breath after walking 100 meters, was hospitalized 2–3 times/year for exacerbations, had an HbA1c of 8.2%, and smoked 10 cigarettes/day. He was worried his driving job was at risk and his income was falling. Through StrongBody AI, John was matched with a German respiratory specialist (COPD and RPM expert) and an Australian nutritionist (anti-inflammatory diet specialist). He received RPM devices to monitor blood oxygen, heart rate, and an inhaler tracker. The German specialist analyzed daily data, guided him in correct breathing techniques, and adjusted medication when SpO2 dropped. The Australian nutritionist built a diet rich in omega-3 and anti-inflammatory vegetables, helping John quit smoking more easily by reducing lung inflammation. After 8 months, COPD exacerbations were reduced by 50%, HbA1c dropped to 6.4%, he could walk 2 km without shortness of breath, his job stabilized, and he felt “reborn.” John said: “StrongBody AI didn’t just give me tools; it gave me hope and a team that truly accompanies me.”
Call to Action and the Future
Do not wait for complications to happen before you regret it. Today, with just a few minutes of registration at https://strongbody.ai, you can instantly build a global Personal Care Team including endocrinologists, nutritionists, and lifestyle coaches—all ready to support you via RPM, video consultation, and B-Messenger with AI Voice Translate. Tens of millions of global users have proven: tight early control helps reduce complication risks by 30%, saving thousands in personal costs and billions for the NHS. The future of your health, your family’s health, and the entire British healthcare system lies in the decision to act today. Join StrongBody AI and Multime AI—where language barriers and geographical distances no longer exist—to live healthier, longer, and freer. Health does not wait. Start now!
Overview of StrongBody AI
StrongBody AI is a platform connecting services and products in the fields of health, proactive health care, and mental health, operating at the official and sole address: https://strongbody.ai. The platform connects real doctors, real pharmacists, and real proactive health care experts (sellers) with users (buyers) worldwide, allowing sellers to provide remote/on-site consultations, online training, sell related products, post blogs to build credibility, and proactively contact potential customers via Active Message. Buyers can send requests, place orders, receive offers, and build personal care teams. The platform automatically matches based on expertise, supports payments via Stripe/Paypal (over 200 countries). With tens of millions of users from the US, UK, EU, Canada, and others, the platform generates thousands of daily requests, helping sellers reach high-income customers and buyers easily find suitable real experts.
Operating Model and Capabilities
Not a scheduling platform
StrongBody AI is where sellers receive requests from buyers, proactively send offers, conduct direct transactions via chat, offer acceptance, and payment. This pioneering feature provides initiative and maximum convenience for both sides, suitable for real-world health care transactions – something no other platform offers.
Not a medical tool / AI
StrongBody AI is a human connection platform, enabling users to connect with real, verified healthcare professionals who hold valid qualifications and proven professional experience from countries around the world.
All consultations and information exchanges take place directly between users and real human experts, via B-Messenger chat or third-party communication tools such as Telegram, Zoom, or phone calls.
StrongBody AI only facilitates connections, payment processing, and comparison tools; it does not interfere in consultation content, professional judgment, medical decisions, or service delivery. All healthcare-related discussions and decisions are made exclusively between users and real licensed professionals.
User Base
StrongBody AI serves tens of millions of members from the US, UK, EU, Canada, Australia, Vietnam, Brazil, India, and many other countries (including extended networks such as Ghana and Kenya). Tens of thousands of new users register daily in buyer and seller roles, forming a global network of real service providers and real users.
Secure Payments
The platform integrates Stripe and PayPal, supporting more than 50 currencies. StrongBody AI does not store card information; all payment data is securely handled by Stripe or PayPal with OTP verification. Sellers can withdraw funds (except currency conversion fees) within 30 minutes to their real bank accounts. Platform fees are 20% for sellers and 10% for buyers (clearly displayed in service pricing).
Limitations of Liability
StrongBody AI acts solely as an intermediary connection platform and does not participate in or take responsibility for consultation content, service or product quality, medical decisions, or agreements made between buyers and sellers.
All consultations, guidance, and healthcare-related decisions are carried out exclusively between buyers and real human professionals. StrongBody AI is not a medical provider and does not guarantee treatment outcomes.
Benefits
For sellers:
Access high-income global customers (US, EU, etc.), increase income without marketing or technical expertise, build a personal brand, monetize spare time, and contribute professional value to global community health as real experts serving real users.
For buyers:
Access a wide selection of reputable real professionals at reasonable costs, avoid long waiting times, easily find suitable experts, benefit from secure payments, and overcome language barriers.
AI Disclaimer
The term “AI” in StrongBody AI refers to the use of artificial intelligence technologies for platform optimization purposes only, including user matching, service recommendations, content support, language translation, and workflow automation.
StrongBody AI does not use artificial intelligence to provide medical diagnosis, medical advice, treatment decisions, or clinical judgment.
Artificial intelligence on the platform does not replace licensed healthcare professionals and does not participate in medical decision-making.
All healthcare-related consultations and decisions are made solely by real human professionals and users.
Step 1: Register a Seller account for health and wellness experts:
- Access the website https://strongbody.ai or any link belonging to StrongBody AI.
- Click Sign Up (top right corner of the screen).
- Choose to register a Seller account.
- Enter your email and password to create an account.
- Complete the registration and log in to the system.
Immediately after registration, the system will guide you step-by-step to complete your profile and open your store.
STEP 2: Complete Seller Information (5 Minutes)
A standard Seller account requires full information to begin receiving transactions from customers.
Mandatory Personal Information:
– Full name, gender, and geographical address.
– Profession/Expertise relevant to the StrongBody AI fields.
Profile Imagery:
– Avatar: Real photo, clear face, matching gender and nationality.
– Profile Cover: Real photo showing your workspace, including people.
Real photos significantly increase trust and booking rates.
Introduction & Qualifications:
– Self-description matching your expertise, reflecting professional spirit.
– Educational background, degrees, and certifications.
– Practical Experience: Minimum of 1 year, clearly describing past roles.
– At least 2 relevant professional skills.
– At least 1 professional practice certificate/license.
Payment Information:
– Complete the Seller’s credit card information.
STEP 3: Post Services – MANDATORY for Doctors & Experts
Minimum Requirements:
– At least 02 Online services.
– At least 01 Offline or Hybrid service.
A High-Quality Service Needs:
– Alignment with the Seller’s expertise.
– Clear Description of:
+ Scope of work.
+ Service duration/delivery time.
+ Benefits for the customer.
+ Personal competence and commitment.
– At least 5 illustrative images.
– Language: Seller’s native language or English.
Support from StrongBody AI:
– Seller Assistant (AI Tool):
+ Suggests services matching your expertise.
+ Guides structure and presentation.
+ Increases professionalism and conversion rates.
STEP 4: Post Products – MANDATORY for Pharmacists & Health Product Sellers
(Products are for sharing and direct sale, not via a shopping cart)
Minimum Requirements:
– At least 2 products relevant to your expertise.
– Recommendation: 3–5+ products to increase conversion.
Required Product Information:
– Full product name, origin, and manufacturer.
– Key functions or standout advantages.
– Reference price.
– At least 2 illustrative images.
– Content in the Seller’s national language.Note: StrongBody AI does not process product payments. Buyers will contact the Seller directly for transactions and shipping.
STEP 5: Write Blogs (OPTIONAL – Highly Recommended)
Blogs help increase credibility and conversion rates (by ~30%).
Suggestions:
– At least 2 blog posts.
– Topics: Expertise, professional perspectives, career journey, public health.
– Each post should have:
+ Illustrative photos.
+ Relevant keywords.
+ In-depth content with evidence/data.
+ While not mandatory, blogs help Sellers gain more trust and selections.
STEP 6: Immediate Store Visibility
– As soon as you have:
+ An Avatar
+ Listed Expertise
+ Highlighted Skills
Your shop profile will be public immediately.
– Customers can then:
+ Access your profile.
+ Send messages.
+ Submit service requests.
Meanwhile, Sellers can continue adding services, products, and blogs to perfect the store.
Standout Advantages of StrongBody AI
– No tech knowledge required: Open your store in minutes.
– Global reach: Connect with customers worldwide.
– All-in-one: Combine services, products, and professional content on a single profile.
