Noncommunicable diseases prevention in low- and middle-income countries: an overview of Health in All Policies (HiAP)

NCD causes an estimated 35 million deaths annually and accounts for 60% of all deaths globally, of which 80% is in low-and-middle-income countries (LMIC). NCDs will account for 80% of the global burden of disease by 2020. And will be responsible for seven out of every ten deaths in LMIC, more than double the current trend today. NCD is no longer an emerging problem in developing countries, it is assuming an alarming dimension, and it's taking on the proportion of an epidemic. The known risk factors for significant NCDs are well documented. The critical risk factors are tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity, and harmful use of alcohol. To reverse the current trend that leads to an increase in poor dietary pattern, sedentary lifestyle, tobacco use, and harmful alcohol use- will require policies that transcend the health sector and policy change in different areas such as finance, urban planning, education, agriculture, and transportation.