The Long and Short of Life Expectancy – – @bbcradio4 complete with @RedActuary https://t.co/4SBQLWe2e1
— alan chaplin (@achaplin71) September 11, 2019
This is such a good discussion on how we measure life expectancy that I don’t want to spoil it by blogging all over it. That’s not just because it contains my colleague Hilary Salt’s contribution, good as it is. It’s also because of the clarity of explanations of what is going on right now – the stalling (not falling) in the improvements in life expectancy.
Are we hitting a biological ceiling or is there potential to by-pass avoidable mortality?
Why was 2015 such a bad year for life expectancy in the UK and Europe? Why was 2014 a good year?
Is there another societal shift in the pipeline – to match the general stopping in smoking?Are there more wonder-drugs like statins around the corner?
Why does where you live make such a difference to where you live? What’s so great about Camden and so rubbish about Glasgow – when it comes to living longer?
And why is the gap between women living in Camden and in Glasgow widening? Is it coincidental to the period of austerity we have gone through?
Listen to this excellent piece and decide for yourself. As one of the Scottish people interviewed pointed out
We don’t listen to this – we live it.
The Long and Short of Life Expectancy – – @bbcradio4 complete with @RedActuary https://t.co/4SBQLWe2e1
— alan chaplin (@achaplin71) September 11, 2019
All the actuary can tell you with certainty is that mortality is one each. However, the main determining factors on longevity are up to the individual in what we eat, smoke drink exercise so early death is chosen by those who take little interest in their own well being rather like the situation as DC replaced DB Now both situations are about what you put in is the major factor in what you get out in both quality and quantity. The rest is just noise
You may be right John but the mortality gap between rich and poor areas has been around for many years. If it is down to personal lifestyle choices then what as a society are we doing to address this and educate people?
I think there must be more fundamental issues at play. Government austerity, poverty in general, low aspirations, loss of traditional industries and the affect these issues have on physical and mental health are all factors which should not be discounted.
I’m no expert, so happy to be corrected if I’m wrong on this.
Nice one. I think we all can agree with what you mentioned.