The Biggest Risk Factors for Death Around the World (and Yes, You Can Control Them)

A big new global study has pinpointed the top risk factors for death — and turns out, many of them are from conditions that can be avoided to some extent.

Researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington analyzed 79 risk factors for death (including behavioral, environmental and occupational, and metabolic) in 188 countries. They found that the top factors were high blood pressure, smoking, high body mass index, and high fasting plasma glucose (problems with insulin functioning).

Overall, poor diet had the greatest cumulative impact on health worldwide.

As for the United States specifically: The good news is that fewer Americans are dying from diseases attributable to high systolic blood pressure and high total cholesterol. However, more people are losing their lives from conditions associated with high body mass index, high fasting plasma glucose, and smoking — the latter was the No. 1 individual risk factor associated with deaths in the U.S. in 2013. In fact, smoking rose from the No. 2 spot back in 1990 due to a 26.3 percent increase in deaths among American women.

“Smoking has always been the leading cause of death here in the U.S.,” study author Ali Mokdad, PhD, professor of global Health at IHME, tells Yahoo Health. “We felt for a while that we had a handle on tobacco, but what we are seeing is kind of a resurgence of smoking, and we’re concerned about that.”

The risks associated with the highest number of deaths in the U.S. in 2013 (for both sexes): 

1. Smoking
2. High systolic blood pressure
3. High body mass index
4. High fasting plasma glucose
5. High total cholesterol
6. Low physical activity
7. Low glomerular filtration rate
8. Diet low in fruits
9. Diet high in sodium
10. Alcohol use

The risks associated with the highest number of deaths in the U.S. in 2013 (for men): 

1. Smoking
2. High systolic blood pressure
3. High body mass index
4. High fasting plasma glucose
5. High total cholesterol
6. Low physical activity
7. Alcohol use
8. Diet low in fruits
9. Diet high in sodium
10. Low glomerular filtration rate

The risks associated with the highest number of deaths in the U.S. in 2013 (for women):

1. High systolic blood pressure
2. Smoking
3. High body mass index
4. High fasting plasma glucose
5. High total cholesterol
6. Low physical activity
7. Low glomerular filtration rate
8. Diet high in sodium
9. Diet low in fruits
10. Diet low in vegetables

Mokdad points out there are both negatives and positives of the lifestyle behaviors among Americans. “If you take diet, for example, recent polls in the U.S. are showing that calorie intake is on the decline,” he explains. “But at the same time, the components of diet — eating more nuts, dark fish, fruits and vegetables — have not reached a level that are beneficial for the health of American people.”

He believes our longevity lies in the hands of each and every person, from the decision-makers and business owners to the everyday consumers. For example, if customers request healthier food choices, “there will be a demand on food companies and restaurants to react,” he says. “Parents have to be role models, schools have to increase the level of physical education — it’s a bigger solution than just the medical system. So we fail if we put the pressure on the public health system to solve this problem. Everybody has to be involved.”

Mokdad adds that there is no quick-fix solution. “As for these diseases we are talking about, it’s not like we’re able to give you a pill and say, ‘You’re done,’” he says. “In order to address the largest epidemics that are affecting our country, which are mainly chronic diseases — heart disease, stroke, cancers, and diabetes — we have to be very patient. We have to set realistic goals, take baby steps at times and learn to change our behaviors.”