health

by Nina   Ice by Philip Amdal �Stated succinctly, lower mortality is being replaced by higher morbidity (ill health).� �Daniel Lieberman, from The Story of the Human Body For some time now I�ve been meaning to write about the difference between longevity (the number of years you live) and morbidity (the number of years you spend in ill health). I think it�s an important topic because morbidity, not longevity, is the issue we�re trying to address here on this blog. I�ve definitely had people challenge me about the longevity issue, saying for example, that if overweight people live just as long as thinner people, what�s the problem? Well, the answer is that the number of years you live is not the whole story. It�s also important to consider what your quality of life might be during your lifetime, especially your later years. �As more people are living longer and fewer are dying young from diseases caused by infections or insufficient food, exponentially more middle-aged and elderly p...