What Risk Factors Drive More Deaths Before vs. After 55 - Globally

This global mortality data shows that the connection between early habits and later diseases is stronger than most realise.

• Under 55: 11.7 million deaths globally, with bad habits causing 52% (6.1 million deaths)
• Over 55: 51.1 million deaths globally, with metabolic diseases causing 48% (24.7 million deaths)
• The connection: Behavioral risks in youth directly feed metabolic diseases in older age
• Global impact: Environmental and occupational risks account for 14.3 million deaths across all ages

Behavioral risks - smoking, poor diet, and lack of exercise - lead to more deaths among younger people, and directly also build the foundation for metabolic conditions - diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension - which drive nearly half of all deaths in older populations.

The environmental and occupational category, responsible for 2.8 million deaths in younger people and 11.5 million in older adults, includes air pollution, workplace hazards, and unsafe water—factors often beyond individual control but significant for public health policy.

For individuals under 55:

• Focus on behavior modification: diet, exercise, tobacco cessation
• Recognize that current choices are preventing future metabolic disease
• Regular health monitoring to catch early warning signs

For individuals over 55:

• Prioritize metabolic health management with healthcare providers
• Continue healthy behaviors while managing existing conditions
• Address controllable risk factors to prevent progression

Prevention remains the most powerful tool across all age groups.

Learn more about health risks here.