Declines in U.S. disability levels have stalled, but much disability could be prevented by reducing lifestyle-related risk factors in the population. We estimated the percentage of national and state disability that could be prevented through reducing five modifiable health risk factors: cigarette smoking, obesity, diabetes, high cholesterol, and hypertension. Data were from the 2013 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Taking into account risk factor prevalence and the association between each risk factor and disability, we evaluated the fraction of disability preventable if risk factors were reduced under two scenarios: complete elimination and reduction in all states to lowest levels observed in U.S. states. If all five risk factors were eliminated, fifty-three percent of disability could be prevented nationally. Largest contributors were smoking (17%), obesity (16%), and hypertension (12%). If all states reduced risk factor levels to lowest observed levels, up to seven percent of disability could be prevented nationally. Many states in the South and Mid-West could experience disability reductions of more than 10% by attaining risk factor levels on par with states with the most favorable profiles. Improved risk factor prevention may result in the resumption of longer-term declines in U.S. disability.
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