U.S. Life Expectancy Projected to Decline by 2050

A new study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts that Americans' life expectancy will only slightly increase to 80.4 years by 2050 due to rising obesity and drug use, which are expected to create a 'public health crisis of unimaginable scale.' Although life expectancy at birth improved from 76.4 years in 2021 to 77.5 years in 2022, the U.S. is forecasted to drop from 49th to 66th in global life expectancy rankings by 2050. The study highlights that over 260 million Americans will be affected by obesity, which significantly contributes to chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes. Experts emphasize the need for immediate action and better health strategies to address these issues. Even with optimal health practices, the U.S. would still lag behind countries like Canada and India in life expectancy. The research underscores a troubling trend where health improvements are not keeping pace with other nations.