CINDI is an European intervention programme against major noncommunicable diseases (NCD). 12 European countries, Canada, and Israel are participating in the programme which is coordinated by the World Health Organization. The book discribes the baseline situation in the countries prior to the start of the programme. Trends in the premature mortality of some major NCDsare given as well as the prevalence of risk factors for NCDs in the population (high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, overweight, smoking). The results presented stress the necessity of a country- wide integrated approach: NCDs account for two third of premature deaths in the CINDI countries and around 70% of the adult population are at risk for NCDs.