Obesity and snuff cut life expectancy in the U.S.

U.S. is a nation that spends more money on health. Yet, paradoxically, the life expectancy of its citizens do not grow in line, being lower than those of other developed countries. This follows from a work signed by the National Research Council (National Research Council).

The main objective of the panel of experts who participated in this research was to understand "the divergent trends in longevity in countries with more resources." And, in particular, to analyze what is the status of U.S. compared with other developed nations.As a first result, found that during the last quarter century, although life expectancy of Americans themselves have grown, have followed a slower pace as compared to countries like Japan, Australia or Spain and the obesity in U.S.

 Obesity and snuff

One of the main causes of this slowdown could be smoking, according to the report stresses. Side effects of cigarettes takes several years to become evident, and it seems that is what has happened in the U.S.. Currently, there are fewer smokers but those who were addicts are now feeling the evils of this harmful habit.

"Two or three decades, smoking was much more widespread in the U.S. than in Europe or Japan, and the consequences still being felt in the rates of mortality," the report said.
Especially, this is the case of women, who are the most slow to sign up for the fashion of snuff and now sick and die for it. This situation is also happening in our country obesity in U.S..

Given this period of time between exposure to snuff and the onset of the disease, it is foreseeable that the United States in the years to note a marked reduction in mortality from this product. A decrease that was felt by the male population, were the first to light a cigarette but also the first to turn it off.In the case of Japan, it seems that the opposite will occur. Smoking was established later and still might not have felt all the burden it imposes on the deaths and, consequently, expectations of life obesity in U.S..

Obesity and other risk

On the other hand, the paper's authors emphasize that the second factor clearly related to the longevity of Americans is obesity.It is not known the real impact of excess weight but estimates could be behind one fifth or one-third of that decrease in the lifespan.In fact, current trends continue, obesity could wipe out improvements made by ex-smokers obesity in U.S..

The factors that were considered as a possible cause, not statistically significant in the U.S.. Not even the lack of universal access to healthcare, sedentary habits or the harmful effects of hormone therapy.However, the experts make it clear that the lack of clarity or strength of some of the results could be due to the limitations provided by the research in this field, since most of the studies are observational.