The original post on this subject can be found in the Archives as the earliest November 2007 post. Since that post appeared, Google has tinkered with the Gapminder software and updated the databases the software accesses. Additionally, other databases with related information have been updated such as GeoHive's life expectancy table for countries with populations exceeding 140,000 for the time-frame 2000-2005. That table lists 23 countries with greater life-expectancies than the US as of 2005. Using that order the following three snapshots are of the relationship of those 23 countries to the US plus India and China. While these two countries life expetancies are still below the US, they are remarkable in two respects. The rate of growth of the populations and the rate of increase in life expectancies. Clicking on an image will render a larger view:
In 1950 most of the 23 countries had life expectancies less than the US.
By 1981 most of the 23 countries were ahead of the US.
At 2008 all 23 countries (listed in order)were ahead of the US.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
US Lags Global Trend in Life-Span Change Version2
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A recent study (see Health Related Links; US Women Life Expectancies Decreasing 4/23/08 in the sidebar) indicates that US women in certain counties, mostly in the South, particularly the Mississippi delta, Appalachia, and encroaching into the Mid West, life expectancies have decreased from the early 1980's through 1999. The study states, “Female mortality increased in a large number of counties, primarily because of chronic diseases related to smoking, overweight and obesity, and high blood pressure.” It further attributes poverty as a causative factor.
The global change in life expectancies is interesting because countries of all economic, political, medical care, and cultural types have exceeded the US over time. While a county-like sub-analysis of these countries may also find poverty as a common denominator, it is likely that smoking, weight, and high blood pressure will also be a common factor. So perhaps the question is do persons with good information take better care of themselves through diet and exercise than persons with less access to good information. The dramatic increases of life expectancies in China and India cannot easily be attributed to wealth, though economic improvement is beginning to be significant.
Cooper data ( see http://betterhealthtmbc.blogspot.com/2007/11/cooper-clinic-radio-show-archives.html) indicates that eating smarter and moving more yields a major increase in life expectancy. While eating smarter may have a higher cost embedded, and, thereby negatively affect persons in poverty, moving more can be accomplished by persons in all economic environments. The Cooper “Squared Off Curve” is applicable regardless of economic conditions.
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