Researchers have identified an increase in disease risk factors worldwide, attributing this rise to an aging population and changing lifestyles. Factors such as particulate matter air pollution, smoking, low birthweight, and shorter gestation periods have also contributed to the increase. However, improvements have been seen in areas such as unsafe water, sanitation, maternal and child health, and household air pollution. A new study published in The Lancet revealed a significant rise in people experiencing disease risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, and high BMI globally. These risk factors are linked to metabolism, including high systolic blood pressure, high fasting plasma glucose, high body mass index, high LDL cholesterol, and kidney dysfunction.
The study by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington showed a 49% increase in global Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) due to metabolism-related risk factors between 2000 and 2021. Poor health in individuals aged 15 to 49 was increasingly attributed to high BMI and high fasting plasma glucose, increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes. Other metabolic risk factors such as high LDL cholesterol and high SBP also ranked among the top 10 risks for this age group. Lifestyle factors play a significant role in the development of these risk factors, highlighting the need for interventions targeting preventable, non-communicable diseases through policy and education.
The study presented comprehensive estimates of the disease burden of 88 risk factors and associated health outcomes for individuals across 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2021. The analysis incorporated new burden of proof methodology for the first time, evaluating the evidence linking risk factors, diseases, and injuries to prioritize actions and identify areas requiring further research. Particulate matter air pollution, smoking, low birthweight, and short gestation were among the biggest contributors to DALYs in 2021, with significant progress seen in reducing the global burden of disease attributable to risk factors related to unsafe water, sanitation, maternal and child health, and household air pollution.
The research emphasized the need for targeting preventable health conditions through interventions focused on obesity, metabolic syndromes, and other risk factors like high blood sugar, high blood pressure, low physical activity, and poor diet. Future trends could be influenced by factors such as climate change, increasing obesity rates, and addiction, presenting opportunities to alter the trajectory of global health. Progress has been made in reducing disease burden related to maternal and child health, unsafe water sources, sanitation, and handwashing facilities over the past three decades, particularly in lower socio-demographic Index regions.
Despite global improvements, the disease burden associated with risk factors related to child and maternal malnutrition remains high in specific regions such as sub-Saharan Africa, North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, and parts of East Asia and Oceania. While there have been declines in the global disease burden associated with child and maternal malnutrition risk factors, challenges remain in addressing lifestyle choices leading to metabolic syndrome. Public health campaigns promoting healthier eating, regular exercise, and education on diet and exercise are vital in addressing modifiable metabolic risk factors and preventing the worsening global burden of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.
The rise in obesity and associated secondary health effects globally has been linked to shifts from agricultural to industrialized societies, sedentary lifestyles, technological advancements reducing physical activity, and increased access to processed foods. Education about healthy eating and exercise from an early age, as well as reducing the cost of whole foods and minimally processed options, are essential interventions to address these issues. While addressing these challenges may take time, early education and lifestyle changes can have a significant impact on reducing the prevalence of metabolic risk factors and improving global health outcomes in the long term.
