The International Society for Behavioral Medicine (ISBM) and the Society of Behavioral Medicine (SBM) advocate for the inclusion of behavioral scientists in the implementation of the Global Action Plan for the prevention of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in low- and middle-income countries

Abstract

Abstract Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death and disability in the world with the majority of deaths occurring in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The financial implications of disease and disability due to NCDs, combined with the costs of long-term management, are major causes of impoverishment and serve as barriers to socio-economic development. The transition from infectious diseases to NCDs as leading causes of mortality in LMICs is driven by several factors, primarily increasing globalization, urbanization, ageing of populations and economic development. Responding to these challenges will require local and comprehensive primary and secondary prevention efforts. The World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan provides a road map and an array of policy options to achieve nine voluntary global targets by 2025. The primary responsibility of governments in responding to the challenge of NCDs includes international scientific cooperation to support national and local efforts. The implementation of such efforts to prioritize the prevention of NCDs will create an environment in which the rising trend of the NCD burden could be potentially halted and reversed. When developing NCD policies, stakeholders should consider evidence-based strategies which can be implemented by multidisciplinary teams that are led or have the participation of behavioral medicine scientists. Behavioral medicine strategies should be incorporated into the policy and intervention framework developed to target NCDs in LMICs.