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A health survey says almost all adults in Fiji aged between 18 and 69 have at least one risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
It found 98.5 percent of that age group have at least one risk factor, while nearly half are living with three or more.
The survey said the four major fatal NCDs - heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and chronic respiratory illness - are responsible for approximately 80 percent of all deaths in Fiji.
It also found more than one-third of adults have high blood pressure, but fewer than one in four have it controlled; and salt consumption is double the recommended intake.
More than two-thirds (68.1 percent) of adults are overweight or obese, disproportionately affecting women.
In response, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services has outlined a five-year roadmap.
The priorities in the plan include stronger food and fiscal policies, such as tax on unhealthy products; and strengthening primary health care to integrate prevention, screening, and long-term disease management.
The ministry said the report underscores that NCDs are driven not only by individual choices but by broader factors - including food systems, urban design, and marketing - demanding a whole-of-society response.
"Without urgent and sustained action, preventable illness and premature death will continue to rise," the ministry said.
"This survey provides the critical evidence base for Fiji to track progress, adjust strategies, and secure a healthier future for all through decisive leadership and coordinated action."
Last October, world leaders put their weight behind a United Nations declaration on responding to NCDs and mental health in an integrated way.
Pacific leaders had raised the issue of NCDs in the UN general debate in September.
