A new analysis of life expectancy, mortality and morbidity related to more than 350 diseases finds the U.S. is falling behind dozens of other countries in key health rankings.
When it comes to health and life expectancy, America is falling farther behind the rest of the developed world, a new study finds.
Researchers say life expectancy in the U.S. is stalling and only predict a modest increase from 79.9 years in 2023 to 80.4 years in 2050. That will cause the country’s global ranking to drop from 49th to 66th among 204 nations included in their analysis.
The results also show women’s health in the U.S. is falling behind other countries faster than men’s. The global ranking for female life expectancy in the U.S. is expected to drop to 74th in 2050—down from 35th in 1990.
The senior author says, “Our models forecast health improvements slowing down due to rising rates of obesity, which is a serious risk factor to many chronic diseases and forecasted to leap to levels never before seen.”
He says other major drivers of poor health in America include high blood sugar and high blood pressure.
If these risk factors were eliminated by 2050, 12.4 million deaths could be averted in the U.S., according to the study.
Another author warns, “The U.S. must change course and find new and better health strategies and policies that slow down the decline in future health outcomes.”
Source: The Lancet
Author Affiliations: University of Washington in Seattle
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