Longer lives, worse health? Scientists uncover troubling trend across generations - Fox News

What the report says

Fox News reported on a recent study finding that people worldwide are living longer but also spending a growing share of life in poor health. Researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington analyzed Global Burden of Disease data for 204 countries and territories from 1990 through 2023. They found the gap between life expectancy and healthy life expectancy widened in nearly every country studied.

According to the report, the United States had the largest “morbidity gap,” with people spending about 14 years, or 17.8% of expected life, in poor health. Globally, life expectancy at birth rose from 64.6 years in 1990 to 73.8 years in 2023, while healthy life expectancy increased from 55.9 to 63.1 years. The researchers said this means gains in survival have exceeded gains in years lived in good health.

The study, published in The Lancet Public Health, identified chronic, mostly non-fatal conditions as major drivers of the trend. Musculoskeletal problems such as low back pain, mental health disorders including depression and anxiety, hearing loss, falls and other non-communicable conditions accounted for a large share of years lived with poor health. The researchers also pointed to high fasting plasma glucose, obesity and aging populations as contributors, while noting the study describes broad patterns rather than proving exact causes.

Fox also cited Dr. Antony Chu of Brown University’s Warren Alpert School of Medicine, who said modern medicine has become better at postponing death than preventing functional decline. He emphasized prevention, mobility, strength, balance, hearing, cognition, mental health and social connection as important parts of healthy aging. The findings matter because they shift attention from lifespan alone to “healthspan,” or how long people remain physically, mentally and socially well.