The US is experiencing a surprising boomlet in good health news, with recent data showing declines in drug overdose deaths, traffic fatalities, and obesity rates. Despite being considered a “rich death trap” for its young citizens, the country has seen a rare bright spot in a century of escalating mortality rates.
According to government reports, drug-overdose deaths fell 3% from 2022 to 2023, while traffic fatalities continued to decline after a huge rise in 2020 and 2021. The adult-obesity rate also declined in the most recent count, ending in August 2023. Furthermore, FBI analysis confirmed a double-digit decline in the national murder rate.
This surge of good health news is rare, with some government estimates having reporting lags of one to two years. However, by this year’s official data analysis, obesity, overdose deaths, traffic fatalities, and murders all declined for the first time in the 21st century. While the level of premature death remains unacceptably high, progress is being made, and 2024 marks a significant step forward in American health reports in decades.
Source: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/12/violence-obesity-overdoses-health-covid/681079