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Life expectancy on the rise 'despite obesity epidemic' Life expectancy on the rise 'despite obesity epidemic'
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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.


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    • Why this obsessesion with living longer ? Lifes no picnic if one's mentaly and physically impaired to some significant dgree ? Suerly we should be concentrating on the quality of life rather than the span ?
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    • To david_a_ross, there is a danger in assuming that your work in ER is representative. I am overweight and smoke but never go near an ER. You only see those who are suffering, you don't see those who are otherwise healthy. I may have two danger factors but I don't participate in heavy exercise or sports. Several contemporaries who lived a very 'healthy' lifestyle have already died. I survive.
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    • This comment is awaiting moderation. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/moderation.shtml#appear" target="_blank">Explain. But it's NONE of your business - just like it's NONE of the states business either. We are human beings not drones in a bee hive or workers in a 1950's Soviet collevtive.Most of these people don't care if they die younger - in fact I'd wager most would rather die younger than live some antiseptic free-will eroded existence.What is warranted is the state to grow up and leave people alone.
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    • The obsession with fat (obese) people is well warranted. For 5 years I've worked as a Staff Nurse in the Emergency Room and I can state with all honesty obese people, heavy drinkers, and smokers die younger from asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. I cannot remember ever a resuscitation on a old 85+ patient.
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    • Why this absolute obsession with trying to live longer? But at what price - utter boredom and PC silliness. I'd rather live to 70 and have my beer than live to 90 in some kind of nanny state trance. The UK has to be the most hand holding by the powers that be country the world has ever seen. What a sad 100 years you will have lived with the state control and bossing about you endure here.
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    • Only the fat-obsessed BBC could twist a positive story into its daily attack on 'the obese'. marklv@54 is spot on. There is NO EVIDENCE to support the assertion that increasing BMIs will halt rising longevity. Indeed several studies assert that those in the BMI 25-35 category live longest. A crude corellation of the stats could even conclude that rising 'obesity' has IMPROVED longevity.
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