A public health academic says most deaths from lifestyle diseases now occur in poorer countries.
Research published in The Lancet medical journal on Saturday suggests a quarter of premature deaths could be prevented by 2025 by reducing tobacco use, alcohol abuse, salt intake, high blood pressure, blood sugar and obesity to agreed targets.
Robert Beaglehole, an Auckland University emeritus professor who co-authored the paper, said the developed world has exported its unhealthy lifestyle of poor diet and physical inactivity.
He said 37 million lives could be saved over 15 years if governments tackle the big killers.
