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ABC News
ABC News
Health
By Tegan Taylor

The deadliest things on the planet aren't guns, sharks or even road accidents

The deadliest things on the planet aren't guns, sharks or even road accidents.

Of all the things that killed people last year, more than half of deaths are attributed to just four preventable risk factors: high blood pressure, smoking, high blood glucose and high body mass index (BMI), according to a series of reports published in The Lancet.

The number of deaths attributed to each factor were determined by calculating how many would have happened if all other risk factors were removed.

Globally, the main risk factors leading to death and disability for men were smoking, high blood pressure and high blood glucose. For women, they were high blood pressure, high blood glucose and high BMI.

In Australia, tobacco was the leading cause of deaths and disability.

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