Health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Suboptimal diet is an important preventable risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs); however, its impact on the burden of NCDs has not been systematically evaluated. A study, funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and published in the Lancet, evaluated the consumption of major foods and nutrients across 195 countries and quantified the impact of their suboptimal intake on NCD mortality and morbidity.
15 dietary risk factors were evaluated for their impact on mortality and disease including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes.
The study estimates that in 2017, 11 million deaths and 255 million DALYs were attributable to dietary risk factors. Leading risk factors were: high intake of sodium, responsible for 3 million deaths and 70 million DALYs; low intake of whole grains, 3 million deaths and 82 million DALYs;
and low intake of fruits, 2 million deaths and 65 million DALYs. The authors comment that dietary data were from mixed sources and were not available for all countries, increasing the statistical uncertainty of the estimates. Nonetheless, they argue that the study provides a comprehensive picture of the potential impact of suboptimal diet on NCD mortality and morbidity, highlighting the need for improving diet across nations. They hope that their findings will inform implementation of evidence-based dietary interventions and provide a platform for evaluation of their impact on human health annually.
Source: Health effects of dietary risks in 195 countries, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. GBD 2017 Diet Collaborators. The Lancet, open Access, published April 03, 2019.