Written by Anuradha MascarenhasBerlin | Updated: October 13, 2025 04:51 AM IST 1 min readFor 15 to 49, the top two risks were unsafe sex and occupational injuries, followed by high BMI, high systolic blood pressure and smoking.Globally, mental health disorders rose steeply, with anxiety disorders increasing by 63% and depressive disorders by 26%. Sexual abuse and partner violence were identified as preventable contributors to depression and other health consequences.’The GBD 2023 study highlights the urgent need for policymakers to expand health priorities beyond reducing child mortality to include adolescents and young adults, particularly in areas with higher rates of mortality than previously known.Among children under 5, the leading risk factors were child and maternal malnutrition, pollution, and unsafe water, sanitation and hygiene. For children aged 5 to 14 years, iron deficiency was the leading risk, followed by other causes and malnutrition.For 15 to 49, the top two risks were unsafe sex and occupational injuries, followed by high BMI, high systolic blood pressure and smoking. For 50 to 69 years old, high BP was the leading risk, followed by smoking, blood sugar, and kidney dysfunction.Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd