Will you live to be 100? Could it be possible that this life expectancy will be the future norm? Researchers say it is actually very likely! Well, it sure makes sense to the Gorilla. With all of the innovations in medicine and nutrition, it’s no wonder people are living longer healthier lives! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now says that the average life expectancy for Americans is at a record high, with 77.6 years being the average. These number were released just Monday and are based on mortality in 2003, the most recent year for which complete data is available. The figure is up from 77.3 in 2002, and that is despite the fact that obesity is also at an all-time high in the U.S. over the last decade (according to the CDC.)
Researchers say that it could be any number of things, which are contributing to a lower mortality rate and higher life expectancy. For one, people are concerned with health and wellness now more than ever before. They actually have a sense of urgency about diet and exercise that they never had in earlier generations. Perhaps it was because they were simply ill-informed proving that knowledge certainly is power.
Dr. Laurel Yates, lead author of Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital says, ”It’s not just luck. It’s not just genetics. It’s lifestyle” that seems to make a big difference. “It’s get your shoes on, get out there, and do some exercise,” she said. “These are some things you can do” to increase the chances of a long life. Surprisingly, the U.S. has more than 55,000 centenarians, and Americans age 85 and older are the country’s fastest-growing group of older adults. So, has America finally found its ”Fountain of Youth?” God knows we have all been looking for long enough! This is exciting news people! Perhaps maybe we will see future generations living to be 120. Hey, you never know!