NCDs are caused, to a large extent, by four behavioural risk factors that are pervasive aspects of
economic transition, rapid urbanization and 21st-century lifestyles: tobacco use, unhealthy diet,
insuffi cient physical activity and the harmful use of alcohol. The greatest effects of these risk factors
fall increasingly on low- and middle-income countries, and on poorer people within all countries,
mirroring the underlying socioeconomic determinants. Among these populations, a vicious cycle
may ensue: poverty exposes people to behavioural risk factors for NCDs and, in turn, the resulting
NCDs may become an important driver to the downward spiral that leads families towards poverty.
As a result, unless the NCD epidemic is aggressively confronted in the most heavily affected
countries and communities, the mounting impact of NCDs will continue and the global goal of
reducing poverty will be undermined.