There|EX is|VBZ a|DT much-quoted|JJ saying|NN ,|, attributed|VBD to|TO the|DT epidemiologist|NN Geoffrey|NNP Rose|NNP :|: A|DT large|JJ number|NN of|IN people|NNS exposed|VBN to|TO a|DT small|JJ risk|NN may|MD generate|VB many|JJ more|JJR cases|NNS than|IN a|DT small|JJ number|NN exposed|VBN to|TO a|DT very|RB high|JJ risk|NN .|. 
This|DT is|VBZ true|JJ for|IN many|JJ individual|JJ risk|NN factors|NNS such|JJ as|IN salt|NN intake|NN (|( linked|VBN to|TO high|JJ blood|NN pressure|NN and|CC cardiovascular|JJ disease|NN )|) and|CC speeding|VBG on|IN the|DT highway|NN (|( linked|VBN to|TO injuries|NNS and|CC accidents|NNS )|) .|. 
Does|VBZ it|PRP apply|VBP to|TO many|JJ other|JJ global|JJ health|NN risks|NNS ?|. 
The|DT study|NN by|IN Anthony|NNP Rodgers|NNP and|CC colleagues|NNS suggests|VBZ that|IN it|PRP does|VBZ .|. 

To|TO develop|VB effective|JJ health|NN policies|NNS ,|, one|CD must|MD understand|VB the|DT existing|VBG health|NN risks|NNS and|CC disease|NN burdens|NNS .|. 
On|IN a|DT worldwide|NN scale|NN ,|, this|DT is|VBZ a|DT tough|JJ challenge|NN .|. 
The|DT Global|NNP Burden|NNP of|IN Disease|NNP Database|NNP ,|, maintained|VBN by|IN the|DT World|NNP Health|NNP Organization|NNP (|( WHO|WP )|) ,|, collects|VBZ data|NNS from|IN countries|NNS around|IN the|DT world|NN on|IN risk|NN factors|NNS such|JJ as|IN tobacco|NN ,|, malnutrition|NN ,|, childhood|NN abuse|NN ,|, unsafe|JJ sex|NN ,|, childbirth|NN ,|, and|CC cholesterol|NN levels|NNS ,|, as|RB well|RB as|IN on|IN disease|NN burdens|NNS ,|, for|IN example|NN depression|NN ,|, blindness|NN ,|, and|CC diarrhea|NN .|. 
A|DT large|JJ group|NN of|IN scientists|NNS from|IN all|DT over|IN the|DT world|NN has|VBZ developed|VBN a|DT framework|NN to|TO analyze|VB these|DT data|NNS .|. 
To|TO compare|VB different|JJ risks|NNS or|CC burdens|NNS ,|, they|PRP calculate|VBP disability-adjusted|JJ life-years|JJ ,|, or|CC DALYs—the|NNP number|NN of|IN healthy|JJ life|NN years|NNS lost|VBD because|IN of|IN a|DT particular|JJ disease|NN or|CC risk|NN factor|NN .|. 

Rodgers|NNP and|CC colleagues|NNS used|VBD data|NNS from|IN the|DT WHO|WP database|NN for|IN 26|CD risk|NN factors|NNS and|CC from|IN 14|CD epidemiological|JJ subregions|NNS of|IN the|DT world|NN to|TO calculate|VB the|DT proportion|NN of|IN risk-factor-attributable|JJ disease|NN burden|NN in|IN different|JJ population|NN subgroups|NNS defined|VBN by|IN age|NN ,|, sex|NN ,|, and|CC exposure|NN level|NN .|. 
For|IN being|VBG underweight|NN in|IN childhood|NN ,|, for|IN example—the|NN leading|VBG risk|NN factor|NN for|IN global|JJ loss|NN of|IN healthy|JJ life—they|NN found|VBD that|IN only|RB 35|CD %|NN of|IN the|DT disease|NN burden|NN occurred|VBD in|IN severely|RB underweight|NN children|NNS ,|, the|DT rest|NN occurred|VBD in|IN those|DT only|RB moderately|RB underweight|NN .|. 
The|DT relative|JJ risks|NNS for|IN the|DT moderately|RB underweight|NN are|VBP much|RB lower|RBR ,|, but|CC the|DT number|NN of|IN children|NNS in|IN that|DT category|NN is|VBZ so|RB large|JJ that|IN the|DT total|JJ attributable|JJ burden|NN amounted|VBD to|TO almost|RB two-thirds|NNS of|IN the|DT total|JJ global|JJ burden|NN of|IN disease|NN for|IN that|DT risk|NN factor|NN .|. 

The|DT analysis|NN confirms—and|NN extends|VBZ to|TO a|DT global|JJ level—previous|JJ research|NN showing|VBG that|IN many|JJ major|JJ health|NN risks|NNS are|VBP important|JJ across|IN the|DT range|NN of|IN exposure|NN levels|NNS ,|, not|RB just|RB among|IN individuals|NNS exposed|VBN to|TO high|JJ levels|NNS of|IN risk|NN .|. 
It|PRP also|RB points|VBZ to|TO risk|VB factors|NNS that|WDT are|VBP particularly|RB prevalent|JJ among|IN specific|JJ populations|NNS and|CC age|NN groups|NNS ,|, and|CC for|IN which|WDT highly|RB targeted|VBN interventions|NNS could|MD be|VB effective|JJ .|. 

Despite|IN numerous|JJ caveats|NNS and|CC limitations|NNS of|IN studies|NNS like|IN this|DT one|CD ,|, such|JJ analyses|NNS are|VBP essential|JJ aids|NNS in|IN guiding|VBG the|DT distribution|NN of|IN limited|JJ funds|NNS to|TO lower|VB the|DT burden|NN of|IN life|NN years|NNS lost|VBD to|TO premature|JJ death|NN and|CC disability|NN .|. 

