Public policy to improve the health of populations will be more effective if it addresses the major causes of disease burden. Even small reductions of population exposure to large risks will yield substantial health gains.194 The principal advantage of doing a comprehensive and comparable scientific assessment of disease burden caused by different risk factors is that it provides the evidence base for informing discussion about policy. Coupled with evidence of their present burden, most of the leading risk factors, except high body-mass index and high fasting plasma glucose, have decreased in at least some regions and countries, showing that substantial reduction of their effect through targeted prevention strategies is feasible. If predictions about huge increases in disease burden worldwide are to be proved wrong, then countries, with appropriate global public health leadership, must urgently implement measures to control exposure to leading hazards, particularly risks for non-communicable diseases.
