They Live Longer In Europe

According to CIA, Americans no longer live longer than Europeans.  Our life expectancy has reached 78.37, but we are still surpassed by 49 countries around the globe, not all of which are wealthy. 

There seem to be correlation between the riches of the country and it's residents' life expectancy,  but it may not be the deciding factor among developed countries.  Monaco tops the list with an expected 89.73 years followed by Macau with 84.41.  Their GDP per capita is $30,000 and 33,000 respectively, compared to $47,200 in the US.

Photo by Michelle Meiklejohn/FreeDigitalPhotos.net

US Researchers said smoking and obesity are the two big reasons Americans' life span is shortened, along with high blood pressure and related illnesses, according to Yahoo News, However, measures to curb unhealthy behaviors could improve life expectancy in coming years and help to reduce health care costs, the researchers said.

Where mortality rates were improved by saving babies a century ago, it is now reduction in mortality rates among the elderly that propels increases in life expectancy according to author Dana Goldman, Director

of the Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics at the University of Southern California.

However, another article published in January this year on ConsumerAffairs.com shows the levels of childhood obesity are raising, and that the next generation is not expected to live longer, or even as long as their parents.

“What is particularly tragic is that studies have suggested that obesity in children today may contribute to a 2-5 year decline in their life expectancy, shorter than that of their parents, due to obesity related diseases that are largely preventable,” said Bartfield.

The causes for childhood obesity, she said, are “multifactorial, including environment and culture.”  Genetics and parental weight status also plays a role.

“If one parent is obese, a child has a 50 percent likelihood of being obese, and if both parents are obese, that skyrockets to 80 percent likelihood,” said Bartfield."

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Now that is scary!  My suggestion?  Besides making eating healthy the rule rather than the exception, let the kids run off their energy outside every day, rain or shine. Better yet, run around with them.  Stop driving the kids everywhere, or yourself for that matter.  If you are close enough to walk or ride your bike, then do so.  The kids will copy our behavior, and we apparently need to improve the "midlife mid-line", so why not pass on some good choices to our children in the process. Not all activity needs to be in organized sports.  And every little bit helps!

Have a happy and healthy Wednesday!!