Longer lives and sicker bodies: Where’s the disconnect?

I recently came across an analysis exploring the healthspan-lifespan connection.

In other words, how long we live (lifespan) versus how many of those years are healthy (healthspan).

Obviously, we want the gap here to be small. We don’t want to live longer lives with sicker bodies.

But the findings of this study—which showcase just how many of us are burdened by disease or disability for longer—are rather somber…

“The greatest disparity”

The new study was published in JAMA Network Open. Researchers analyzed data from 183 World Health Organization (WHO) countries.

And here’s what they uncovered…

The U.S. holds “the greatest disparity” between life expectancy and number of years living with disease or disability. According to this report, Americans spend an average of 12.4 years in poor health at the end of their lives.

And we’re closely followed by the following countries:

• Australia—12.1 years
• New Zealand—11.8 years
• United Kingdom—11.3 years

To put this in perspective, the global average for the gap between healthspan and lifespan is 9.6 years. So, while life expectancy rates may be rising, trends also suggest that you may be spending nearly a decade or more in poor health.

I don’t know about you, but that is NOT our goal.

Where’s the disconnect?

The choice is yours

To help answer this question, let’s look at countries with the smallest healthspan-lifespan gaps: Lesotho, Central African Republic, Somalia, Kiribati, and Micronesia.

So, what are they doing “right”—and where is the U.S. going “wrong?”

I think if I had to place the blame somewhere, I would start with the fact that our nation glorifies a sedentary lifestyle and “healthy” obesity. I would also point to our lack of nutritional education and cheap, easy access to ultra-processed foods.

And really, the solution to this disparity isn’t complicated. Here’s how to close your healthspan-lifespan gap in two simple steps:

• Cut back on ultra-processed foods and focus on high-quality whole foods. Choose grass-fed and -finished meats, organic poultry, wild-caught fish and seafood, organic seasonal produce, and healthy fats from nuts, seeds, eggs, and more. (And STOP feeding our children the worst foods in our food supply!)
• Move more, sit less. ANY activity is better than none—even small changes make a difference to overcome a sedentary lifestyle.

And if you want to get a little deeper with me, consider working on those inner thoughts. It’s easy to think that by giving up an indulgence, you’re depriving yourself.

Why not flip those thoughts around: If I eat junk—or if I continue to lead a sedentary lifestyle—I’m depriving myself of longer, healthier years.

Source:

“America: No. 1 for Being ‘Burdened by Disease’.” U.S. News, 12/16/2024. (usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2024-12-16/study-americans-have-been-living-longer-but-sicker-lives)