Studies Show Americans Now Have Longer Lifespan

Regardless of all the concern about obesity, smoking and other major traits that have an impact on a person’s lifespan, for American’s it’s getting longer. Not only are Americans living longer, they are actually healthier, too. Over the past decade, in fact, Americans have added an entire year more on to their life expectancy. This puts the current life expectancy for Americans at almost 78.

Surprisingly, the reason the lifespan has been extended, is a decrease in deaths from some of the major cancers and other diseases. This includes potentially fatal health issues, such as breast cancer, HIV and heart disease. Still, what some groups hope to focus on between the 2010 to 2020 period, is a more significant decrease in the greater likelihood for certain ethnic and racial groups to experience life threatening illnesses and conditions.

Also, dealing with smoking and obesity does still need to be worked with and improved, greatly. Diabetes is another area that should be improved upon to help people live even longer lives. Of course, once obesity begins to taper off, there may be a natural decline in the rate of diabetes, anyway.

Tackling Obesity

While this new study indicates Americans will continue the trend to increase their lifespan, obesity is still a challenge that must be addressed. To this day, obesity is one of the most difficult problems to cut down on and is responsible for so many related health issues. This past decade did not see a decline in the number of obese Americans there are. In fact, it was quite the opposite. The decade prior, obesity was not even the national epidemic it has become.

One of the biggest growing concerns, too, is childhood obesity. Not only can it lead to earlier and more severe health problems, it can result in a shorter lifespan. If left untreated, childhood obesity could, eventually lead to a shorter average life expectancy rate for Americans. It is crucial to overall health of Americans to begin to get a real grasp on obesity, especially childhood obesity.

Making Changes in Obesity

Other studies show, though, that the rates for obesity and childhood obesity are now beginning to level off. The next stage would be to begin to be able to lower those numbers and prevent future obesity. One day, it may be possible to make obesity a non-issue, once again.

With childhood obesity numbers three times as high as they were three decades ago, efforts are being made to get children more active. In addition to needing to include exercise and physical activity back into their lives, children should also be eating a proper, healthy diet. The lack of physical fitness and poor nutritional choices for a diet are the main two reasons children, as well as adults, suffer from and struggle with obesity.

If efforts continue to be made, the report for 2020 will be vastly improved in several areas. The effects of those who are obese during their childhood would take years to impact the life expectancy numbers. Hopefully by then, obesity will be a thing of the past.