US Lags in Life Expectancy

The US has slipped to 42nd place in international rankings of life expectancy, the AP reports. Two decades ago, the US was in 11th place. The downgrade is partially due to the fact that the more countries are included in the survey, but rising health insurance costs, skyrocketing obesity rates, high infant mortality, and racial disparities are most likely to blame for putting the US behind most industrialized nations.

While Americans have an average life expectancy of 77.9 years, African-Americans average a 73.3 lifespan, behind Moroccans and Nicaraguans. "Something's wrong here," says one researcher, when the country "that spends the most on health care is not able to keep up with other countries." One epidemiologist chalks up the poor ranking to the fact that the US "has the resources that allow people to get fat and lazy." (More life expectancy stories.)