This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/int/news/-/news/health-12771594

The article has changed 32 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Life expectancy on the rise 'despite obesity epidemic' Life expectancy on the rise 'despite obesity epidemic'
(40 minutes later)
Life expectancy in the UK is on the rise, along with the rest of Europe, despite fears over the impact of obesity, a population expert has said.Life expectancy in the UK is on the rise, along with the rest of Europe, despite fears over the impact of obesity, a population expert has said.
Analysing trends from the past 40 years, Professor David Leon credited a decline in deaths from heart disease for the continued rise.Analysing trends from the past 40 years, Professor David Leon credited a decline in deaths from heart disease for the continued rise.
People in the UK are also living longer than those in the US, he says.People in the UK are also living longer than those in the US, he says.
His analysis is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.His analysis is published in the International Journal of Epidemiology.
Professor Leon, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, points out that in the last five years most European countries have been going in a "positive direction" for the first time in decades.Professor Leon, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, points out that in the last five years most European countries have been going in a "positive direction" for the first time in decades.
Despite concern that health problems arising from obesity would affect life expectancy in high-income countries, such as the UK, there is no evidence of this to date.Despite concern that health problems arising from obesity would affect life expectancy in high-income countries, such as the UK, there is no evidence of this to date.
Professor Leon said that deaths from cardiovascular disease in the UK have seen, "some of the largest and most rapid falls of any Western European country, partly due to improvements in treatment as well as reductions in smoking and other risk factors."Professor Leon said that deaths from cardiovascular disease in the UK have seen, "some of the largest and most rapid falls of any Western European country, partly due to improvements in treatment as well as reductions in smoking and other risk factors."
But he admits that it may to be too soon to see the impact of increasing obesity rates.But he admits that it may to be too soon to see the impact of increasing obesity rates.
"We are yet to see the impact of a generation of people who have been obese from childhood through to adulthood. We can't predict how that will affect life expectancy figures in the future.""We are yet to see the impact of a generation of people who have been obese from childhood through to adulthood. We can't predict how that will affect life expectancy figures in the future."
"We are definitely seeing type-2 diabetes occurring more in teenagers due to obesity, but this is not immediately being translated into mortality rates.""We are definitely seeing type-2 diabetes occurring more in teenagers due to obesity, but this is not immediately being translated into mortality rates."
"This is because of decreased rates of cardiovascular disease and concerted efforts to reduce risk and modify weight," Professor Leon said."This is because of decreased rates of cardiovascular disease and concerted efforts to reduce risk and modify weight," Professor Leon said.
In 2007, the US was found to be at the same level for life expectancy as the lowest of any Western European country (Portugal for males and Denmark for females).In 2007, the US was found to be at the same level for life expectancy as the lowest of any Western European country (Portugal for males and Denmark for females).
Its life expectancy rate for women has been increasing at a much slower pace than Western Europe since the 1980s.Its life expectancy rate for women has been increasing at a much slower pace than Western Europe since the 1980s.
Life expectancy in the US was 78 years in 2007, compared with 80 years in the UK.Life expectancy in the US was 78 years in 2007, compared with 80 years in the UK.
Professor Leon writes: "This observation underlines that gross domestic product (GDP) and health care expenditure per capita are not good predictors of population health within high-income countries."Professor Leon writes: "This observation underlines that gross domestic product (GDP) and health care expenditure per capita are not good predictors of population health within high-income countries."
The latest figures from 2009 show that life expectancy in the UK is 82.6 years for women and 78.4 years for men.The latest figures from 2009 show that life expectancy in the UK is 82.6 years for women and 78.4 years for men.


Comments



Comments

You are not currently signed in. or register.You are not currently signed in. or register.
 
  • id="comment_107373477">
 
  • id="comment_107374306">
A life expectancy projection means that a person born in 2009 can be expected to live to the age of 82.6 if female or 78.4 if male. SO, in that sense it is life expectancy. It is wrong to state "despite the obesity epidemic". Obesity will cause a diabetes epidemic is around 10-15 years time from now. Then we will see a slowing of the reduction in heart diseases cases, which are currently falling due to preventative medicine and drugs like simvastatin. Whilst those who aren't obese may be living longer, those who get diabetes will see their life cut by 10 years.
href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107373477&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107374306&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
  • id="comment_107373186">
  • id="comment_107374180">
    • the increased life expectancy is a reflection of the improved medical therapies and interventions available on the nhs rather than a contradiction to the health risks associated with obesity. Surely we should be more interested in disease prevalence and primary prevention I.e loosing weight, to help stem obesity's drain on the nhs re: earlier post regarding Rubens and more recent post regarding additives in food today. When Rubens recognised overweight as being a sign of prosperity, it probably was, being able to afford all that natural food. Unfortunately, todays overweight and obese are piling on the pounds due to readily available cheap junk foods crammed full chemicals where the long term damage is still unknown.
    href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107373186&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107374180&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
    title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
  • id="comment_107373074">
  • id="comment_107373986">
    • The younger generation of today will probably not enjoy the same life expectancy. Environmental toxins, pesticides, heavy metals, vaccines, MSG, artificial sweeteners - such as aspartame, processed foods, nutrient deficient & GM foods, SLS based shampoos, aluminium based deodorants, chloride & flouride in drinking water, excessive alcohol, hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated vegetable oils. Life expectancy will not increase in the future with the current changes in NHS policy. GPs have to pay to admit patients to hospital, by the time patients are admitted they are in more need of care, which adds further pressure to under staffed hospitals where morale is low. This will result in patients dying and decreased life expectancy.
    href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107373074&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107373986&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
    title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
  • id="comment_107372509">
  • id="comment_107373874">
    • I predict women will die sooner than men in the future. Anybody have any statistics to back this up? Or is it just gorvernment a ploy so that we accept the ever increasing retirement age???
    href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107372509&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107373874&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
    title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
  • id="comment_107372470">
  • id="comment_107373853">
    • how many smokers drinkers and over weighted people out there and id say more than 20 years ago and were gonna live longer i dont think so we have more problems with drinkers at a young age now than ever before and ur saying there gonna live longer yer ok what a joke Zog (21), you are talking nonsense. 'Baby boomers' are those born after the end of WW2, so the oldest are only in their early sixties and none of the males has even reached their state retirement age, yet!
    href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107372470&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/newscommentsmodule/comments/UserComplaintPage?PostID=107373853&s_start=1" class="popup dna-commentbox-complain-link" title="Complain about this comment"> Report this comment
    title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this title="Copy this link to generate a permanent link to this comment">Link to this
       
    Comments 5 of 31 Comments 5 of 37
       
    Add your commentAdd your comment
    You are not currently signed in. or register.You are not currently signed in. or register.