These are the leading causes of death, disability and illness in the Caribbean, according to the Caribbean Community (Caricom) secretariat.
Caricom and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have joined forces to highlight the problem of these lifestyle diseases at UN headquarters.
At a briefing on Friday, Caricom announced that it was working on a resolution to be put before the General Assembly to promote better coordination in the fight against non-communicable diseases - which could lead to strokes, renal failure and other deadly problems.
Mortality rates
The resolution would also call for a world summit in the near future to discuss the issue.
Obesity
Obesity can lead to lifestyle diseases
Caricom nations held their own heads of government summit in 2007 to draw attention to the region - the hardest-hit in the Americas when it comes to non-communicable diseases.
In Trinidad and Tobago, for example, the rate of prevalence is 700% that of Canada, with mortality rates just as far apart.
Caricom is concerned that these lifestyle diseases have fallen behind communicable diseases such as HIV/Aids and malaria on the global agenda.
"Non-communicable diseases are a development issue as much as a health issue," said St Lucia's Donatus St Aimee, chair of Caricom ambassadors at the UN.
Ala Alwan, an assistant director-general of WHO, said non-communicable diseases were responsible for 60% of global deaths, and with diabetes and cancers on the rise, they were taking a heavy toll on household and national budgets, as well as productivity.
"Developing countries that require technical assistance and support in addressing this huge burden are not receiving the kind of support they very much need," he said.
Fast food is blamed for a rise in obesity
Healthy food
Caribbean leaders at their summit identified the causal risk factors of unhealthy diets, physical inactivity, tobacco use and alcohol abuse.
Dr Alwan has however warned against the notion that promoting awareness of a good lifestyle as the whole answer.
For example, it was difficult to quit smoking when tobacco was everywhere at a comparatively low cost.
It was also difficult to eat well if healthy food was unavailable or too expensive.
That is why Caricom wants a coordinated approach across several sectors, not only health.
