Europe’s life expectancy is stalling and it's not just a number on a chart. From the UK to the rest of the continent, the latest research reveals a troubling slowdown in how long we're expected to live.
The culprits? A mixture of poor diets, lack of physical activity and an ever-growing obesity epidemic. And England is experiencing the biggest slowdown.
The Numbers Don't Lie
A groundbreaking new study in The Lancet Public Health shows that the average increase in life expectancy across Europe has slowed dramatically since 2011. Between 1990 and 2011, life expectancy grew by 0.23 years every year. But from 2011 to 2019, that rate dropped to just 0.15 years.
Meanwhile, England experienced the biggest drop from 0.25 years annually between 1990 and 2011 to a paltry 0.07 years from 2011 to 2019. Other areas of the UK including Northern Ireland, Wales, and Scotland followed a similar trajectory, each seeing a significant drop.
What’s Driving This Crisis?
The reasons are clear: heart disease, cancer and rising obesity levels have all played a central role in slowing down life expectancy across Europe.
In an interview with The Guardian this week, Sarah Price, NHS England’s Director of Public Health, emphasised the need for urgent action: 'The slowdown in life expectancy improvements, particularly due to cardiovascular disease and cancer, highlights the urgent need for stronger action on the root causes – poor diet, physical inactivity, and obesity.'
The Exception to the Rule
While most of Europe is slipping, Norway has bucked the trend. The Scandinavian nation – along with Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium – has successfully maintained or even improved life expectancy.
Their secret? Strong public health policies focusing on reducing heart disease and cancer risks, combined with a healthier approach to diet and exercise.
Step Up Your Game
As Prof Nicholas Steel from the University of East Anglia points out, it’s not too late to reverse the trend. By making better food choices and keeping active, it’s still within our power to live healthier, longer lives.
The NHS has already made steps in the right direction, offering weight management programmes to combat the obesity epidemic through its 12-week digital weight management programme.
If you want to live long enough to enjoy your golden years and do your bit for England, it might be time to rethink your lifestyle and start making manageable changes. You can take charge of your health by eating a varied diet, getting more active and committing to long-term wellbeing.
Source: Mens Health UK. Story by Rhalou Allerhand
