Reducing noncommunicable disease risk factors in adolescents

Abstract

Noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, respiratory disorders, and mental and neurological disorders are the cause of 55% of deaths in India. Adolescents—young people between the ages of 11 and 19—make up 21% of India’s population. Their ongoing neural, psychosocial, and physical development makes them especially vulnerable to the four main risk factors for NCDs: Unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity, alcohol use, and tobacco use.