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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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This comment is awaiting moderation. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/moderation.shtml#appear" target="_blank">Explain. "Life expectancy" isn't clear to me. Does this mean that someone born now (2011) is expected to live to 78.4? If so, are there equivalent expectancies calculated for someone who this year is 40 or 60, say?
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    • Just goes to show you, you can have the best and most expensive health care in the world but if its not available to everyone then it is pointless.
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    • The USA spends more money on pharmaceutical drugs than any other country and it is an undisputed fact that these kills hundreds of thousands of people a year. When doctors have gone on strike, mortality rates have dropped dramatically. When they went back to work, people started dying again. People in the USA also have atrocious diets. So not surprising at all.The USA spends more money on pharmaceutical drugs than any other country and it is an undisputed fact that these kills hundreds of thousands of people a year. When doctors have gone on strike, mortality rates have dropped dramatically. When they went back to work, people started dying again. People in the USA also have atrocious diets. So not surprising at all.
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    • The apparent trends in longevity are in no way a reflection of the current state of health or health care. We will only see the effects of our current situation after at least a decade. It is extremely misleading for anyone to make any assertions as to the long term health implications at this juncture.The apparent trends in longevity are in no way a reflection of the current state of health or health care. We will only see the effects of our current situation after at least a decade. It is extremely misleading for anyone to make any assertions as to the long term health implications at this juncture.
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    • Obesity per se is not the 'killer' that it's touted to be. Obesity, as Rubens knew, is a sign of prosperity and well-being - which goes with life not death. Life expectancy numbers are related more to reductions in infant mortality and better public health infrastructure, not eating less. Quit smoking? Yes. Quit eating?...perhaps not.Obesity per se is not the 'killer' that it's touted to be. Obesity, as Rubens knew, is a sign of prosperity and well-being - which goes with life not death. Life expectancy numbers are related more to reductions in infant mortality and better public health infrastructure, not eating less. Quit smoking? Yes. Quit eating?...perhaps not.
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  • class="dna-comment" id="comment_107371718"> class="comments_user_info secondary_body"> 1. marklv
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    It's worth pointing out that official life expectancy forecasts are always 'at birth'. In reality, the average life expectancy for someone already aged around 70 can be as much as 10 years higher than life expectancy at birth, meaning that women and men who have already reached old age could expect live to 93 and 88 respectively. Comments 5 of 6
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