Noncommunicable Diseases

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Six small line charts show global disease burden trends, measured in disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) per 100,000 people, from 2000 to 2023. The top row—diarrheal diseases, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis—shows steady declines. A vertical line in 2020 marks the COVID-19 pandemic. The bottom row—ischemic heart disease, diabetes mellitus, and depressive disorders—shows ischemic heart disease remaining high with slight fluctuation, while diabetes and depression rise modestly. Infectious diseases fall sharply as noncommunicable diseases rise.

Around the World, Chronic Diseases Are Rising

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A new iteration of the Global Burden of Disease Study charts how 25 leading health risks have improved or worsened

A woman sells beans and snacks at her food stall, in Lalitpur, Nepal, on April 26, 2013.

Nepal's Growing Reliance on Packaged Foods

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Over time, consuming packaged products limits diet diversity and leads to unhealthy weight

Brazil's Population Fragility Taxes National Health Systems

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Rising noncommunicable diseases and aging are exposing structural weaknesses in the world's largest public health system

Elderly people dance on a street during the International Day of Older Persons in Sao Paulo's Avenida Paulista October 1, 2013. REUTERS/Nacho Doce (BRAZIL - Tags: SOCIETY TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY)

Singapore to Africa: AI Diagnostics for a Healthier Future

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Singapore's strengths can support Africa's push for faster, more equitable, and ultimately sovereign health systems

Cancer patients sit in a chemotherapy while receiving treatment at the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, in Accra, Ghana, on April 24, 2012.

Somaliland's Khat Conundrum

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The drug has cultural and economic heft, but its rising use could contribute to youth unemployment and mental illness

A man chews khat, in Mogadishu, Somalia, on August 10, 2014.

Are Processed Meat, Sugary Drinks, and Trans Fats Safe at Any Level?

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A new study estimates the links between unhealthy food servings and chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease

Are Processed Meat, Sugary Drinks, and Trans Fats Safe at Any Level?

The Pollution Market: An Auction for Better Air Quality in West India

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An experiment using emission trading schemes between factories offers an alternative fix for industrial air pollution

The Pollution Market: An Auction for Better Air Quality in West India

Going Gray: National Aging Plans Gain Global Traction

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Expanding plans on aging create avenues for understanding the most effective policies while identifying future obstacles

Going Gray: National Aging Plans Gain Global Traction

USAID Lost: Stories From Colombia, Kenya, and Nepal

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Public health and development professionals share insights from three nations hit hard by U.S. cuts to foreign aid

USAID Lost: Stories From Colombia, Kenya, and Nepal

Cancer Patients and the Medicaid Cuts in "One Big, Beautiful Bill"

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Under the GOP megabill, millions could lose access to potentially life-saving cancer screenings, treatments, and care

Cancer Patients and the Medicaid Cuts in "One Big, Beautiful Bill"

How Not to Die Too Soon: The Politics Behind Life Expectancy

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In a new book, Devi Sridhar suggests governments should be held accountable for policies that influence life expectancy

How Not to Die Too Soon: The Politics Behind Life Expectancy

Fostering Bicycle Safety for Human and Planetary Well-Being

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Regular cycling improves physical and mental health, but sustainable urban planning is needed to ensure uptake

Fostering Bicycle Safety for Human and Planetary Well-Being