Prevention of chronic diseases: WHO global strategy on diet, physical activity and health.

Noncommunicable conditions, including cardiovascular diseases (CVD), diabetes, obesity, cancers and respiratory diseases, account for 59% of the 56.5 million deaths annually and 45.9% of the global burden of disease. Half of these (17 million annually) are CVD, the majority heart disease and stroke. Five of the top 10 selected global disease burden risk factors identified by World Health Report 2002: reducing risks, promoting healthy life obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, alcohol and tobacco – independently and often in combination, are the major causes of these diseases.