I'm not sure, but here are some factors I consider. We know how to eat healthier but I don't think we are. I am continually stunned by the portions at restaurants, and that transfers to our portions at home. Our kids are more obese and less active than ever before. And we adults are as well.
Yeah, more and more sodas, fast food, processed foods, oversized portions ... fewer people outside. We all KNOW what we should do, but what percentage do you think actually do it?
I believe life span is going to decrease because so many people are deferring medical care because of multiple thousand dollar deductibles. We got them covered. But we didn't get them health care.
Eh, I don't think this is new. I grew up in a family that couldn't always afford to go to the doctor. If someone had strep throat, and we all ended up catching it, medicine was shared around between us, etc.
Agree. Medical science has already advanced to the point that many people with serious chronic illnesses are being preserved much past the ages they would have in previous generations yet these treatments do not cure or completely alleviate suffering. I don't know the statistics, but anecdotally it also seems people's bodies are now "outliving" their brains, with many elderly people suffering from age-related dementia in their final years.
I think we all agree with the "life vs. preservation" concept ... until it becomes personal. My own anecdotal experience: I don't know many people suffering from dementia of any type, but those things DO run in families.
Ok, so I guess you assume that at 75 you won't be able to do those things. Sad thought, you never know what the future holds.
Yeah, my family tends to live into their 90s, and their 75-90 years look pretty good to me: retirement, travel, hosting family events.
Well, cigarette smoking is down. Teens no longer mean cigarettes when they say, "I smoke", and I'm amazed at how many people are convinced that smoking pot has no negative health consequences.
I just had this discussion lately. We were looking at our group of family and friends and came to the conclusion.. that the 50s is the death zone.. Once you make it past that, you have a good chance of living a long life.
You know, I think you have the right answer here. It's kinda like looking at life expectancy in the Middle Ages -- it looks like no one lived past 30 or so, but the reality is that something like 50% of the population died before age five. I'm in my 50s, and -- yes -- I've lost a few friends unexpectedly; this seems to be the age at which the sedentary lifestyle and/or genetic issues really pop up -- because we can no longer rely upon youth and vigour to see us through. I do think if you make it through your 50s (maybe early 60s?), you have a pretty good shot at really old age.
It is a bit of an oversimplification to call it "totally self inflicted". There are a lot of societal-level factors that go into the rise in obesity and decline of physical activity levels in America, and not everyone has the resources to overcome those factors on an individual level.
Disagree. If you want to improve your health, you can do it. Maybe you don't have the money or time for a gym, personal trainer, whatever -- but you can access
YouTube videos and do something at home. Any of us can afford a couple handweights or a pair of running shoes. Maybe you'll never reach the point you can run a marathon, but any of us could
improve.
I think lifespan is most greatly impacted by genetics.
Yes, our genetics affect our lifespan, but -- once you reach adulthood -- your own lifestyle choices are more signifcant.
