US Lags Global Trend in Life-Span Change

We have encountered a plethora of recent studies indicating the alarming increase in clinical obesity in the US. There were lots of ways of visually presenting the data, but by customizing the information at Gapminder (now a part of Google) we were able to see it clearly. Be patient as the screen sets up as the time will vary based on connection bandwidth and local machine robustness. After the screen fully loads click on "play" at lower left of the screen. Observe closely as it plays. When it finishes come back here and read about what you saw. Following are two snapshots, one at the beginning of the sequence (1960) and one at the end of the sequence (2004). To watch the transition from 1960 to 2004 click on the link entitle "Watch the world change" below:

Click on image to englarge; click back on browser to return.



Watch the world change

Explaining the Chart:

The left-most side of the chart contains life expectancy in years from age 25 to age 80. So when countries progress upward on the chart it is indicative of increase in life-expectancy. The more the change, the greater the rate of increase.

The bottom of the chart indicates the population of countries from below 100,000 to over 1 billion. So small countries are on the left and large countries on the right.

Notice at the upper right of the chart there is a color-code keyed to population. So in addition to the size of a circle, the color of a circle also depicts a countries population.

Below the color-code box there is a "select" box. The countries with a check are those with identifier bubbles on the chart.

The years, at the bottom of the chart span from 1960 to 2004. As the chart progresses the year displays in the background of the chart.

You can stop the chart by clicking on stop and resume by re-clicking play.

In 1960 the US was in 11th place as to life expectancy around the globe. It was far larger than most of the countries ahead of it.

The following countries are included not because they have surpassed the US by 2004, but because they are very large population countries and are gaining rapidly:

China
India
Mexico
Brazil
Indonesia
Pakistan
Russian Federation
Bangladesh

The rest of the countries, 40 of them, are ahead of the US at 2004.

Most of the countries that have NOT progressed are African and are likely greatly impacted by political instability and aids. Place the cursor on an country and it is identified with both population and life-expectancy number displayed.

Play several times to embed the rate of change.

Notice at the top left are two tabs, one marked chart, and to the right, one marked map. Click on the map and the chart reorganizes geographically.

The countries ahead of the US vary greatly as to size, location, race, system of government, economic system, and amount spent on health care with most of the population of the world gaining rapidly.

It is certain that the rapid rate of obesity in the US has negatively impacted the increase in life expectancy. It is also certain that the obesity rate has not decreased since 2004 and is still a great problem today. Check out the slideshow of the US changes by state at the US Center for Disease Control here . And, check the latest information at this PDF .