The Preventable Causes of Death in the United States: Comparative Risk Assessment of Dietary, Lifestyle, and Metabolic Risk Factors
Authors: Goodarz Danaei, et al.
Harvard School of Public Health
Journal: Public Library of Science (PLoS) Medicine, April 2009
Summary: This study looks at which conditions and lifestyle/diet choices are responsible for American deaths. Data from U.S. national health surveys and the National Center for Health Statistics show that top contributors to deaths in each category include the following:
Conditions high blood pressure is responsible for about 395,000 deaths and overweight/obesity is responsible for about 216,000 deaths;
Lifestyle tobacco smoking is responsible for about 467,000 deaths and physical inactivity is responsible for about 191,000 deaths;
Diet high salt intake is responsible for about 102,000 deaths and low omega-3 (seafood) intake is responsible for about 84,000 deaths.
Researchers conclude that interventions to reduce these modifiable risk factors should be a high priority.