Global health. The current scenario and future perspectives

152 9. Non-communicable diseases diet-related: A global health perspective Lorena Rodríguez Osiac, Deborah Navarro Rosenblatt, Marcela Araya Bannout Introduction Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) refer to a group of non-infectious conditions with long-term health consequences, including cancers, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic lung diseases and mental health disorders. Many of these diseases can be prevented by reducing common risk factors such as tobacco use, harmful alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and unhealthy diets. NCDs are the leading cause of death and disability worldwide and account for over 40 million deaths each year, which is equivalent to 71% of all deaths globally. Of these, 15 million are premature deaths, with a disproportionate burden on low- and middle-income countries, which leads to unjust and avoidable inequalities. The Sustainable Development Goals prioritize health and well-being as a goal, but the world is falling short in achieving it. Reducing premature NCD deaths without addressing the underlying issues seems unlikely. Unhealthy diets and their impact on our health and the planet are global problems. Despite some progress in addressing malnutrition, diets are becoming increasingly unhealthy and demanding on the environment, while unacceptable levels of hunger persist. Continuing this road will exact a high human, environmental and economic cost if left unchecked. The current focus on the global syndemic reflects the three major challenges we face today: malnutrition, obesity and climate change. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted that these diseases also act as risk factors for the severity and mortality of infectious diseases, which further emphasizes the relevance of this global health problem and the significant challenge it presents. The aim of this article is to review the current epidemiological situation of diet-related NCDs, their determinants and possible evidence- based intervention strategies.