Life Grows Shorter for America's Poor

Smoking, obesity blamed for spread of 'death gap'
By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 22, 2008 10:40 AM CDT
Life Grows Shorter for America's Poor
Appalachia is among the areas of the US where many poorer counties have seen life expectancy drop over the last half-century.   ((c) ConspiracyofHappiness)

Life is getting shorter for many of America's poorest people, USA Today reports. Life expectancy has risen in most of the nation since 1960 but in some areas—including the Deep South and Appalachia—life expectancy has dropped significantly, according to a study published in The Public Library of Science. Smoking and obesity were the among the main factors, and women were most affected.

"The worse off are getting worse," said the study's lead author. "There's more inequality." (More poverty stories.)

Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X