The United States is set to fall behind globally in health-adjusted life expectancy due to rising obesity rates and other health risks, according to a comprehensive forecast. Despite modest increases in life expectancy, the country’s health progress has been steadily declining, causing it to lag behind many other nations worldwide.
According to a recent study published in The Lancet, the US life expectancy is expected to rise from 78.3 years in 2022 to 79.9 years in 2035 and further increase to 80.4 years in 2050. However, this improvement will not be enough to move the country up its global ranking.
In fact, by 2050, the US is expected to drop from rank 49 in 2022 to rank 66 compared to 204 countries. The decline is sharper in women’s health than men’s and estimates predict a decrease in female HALE within 20 states by 2050.
The forecast indicates that the US will have one of the lowest global rankings for health-adjusted life expectancy, with an expected rank of 108 in 2050. This decline is attributed to rising obesity rates and other health risks, which are projected to increase significantly over the next few decades.
In contrast, other high-income countries and some middle-income countries are expected to maintain their ranking or even improve it. The study also highlights a significant increase in deaths from drug use disorders, with an 878% rise between 1990 and 2021.
However, investigators note that eliminating major risk factors such as obesity, high blood sugar, and high blood pressure could save up to 12.4 million deaths by 2050. Reducing smoking rates could also lead to a significant reduction in mortality rates, with an estimated 2.1 million fewer deaths by 2050.
The study’s authors emphasize the need for immediate action to address these health concerns and find new strategies and policies to slow down the decline in future health outcomes.
Source: https://www.contemporaryobgyn.net/view/study-reports-us-health-rankings-to-plummet-by-2050