Living Longer but Not Healthier: A Growing Global Concern

elderly couple standing at window

As lifespans grow, the years spent in poor health increase, highlighting the need for holistic approaches to well-being.

As Catholics, we are called to cherish the gift of life and care for our physical and spiritual health as stewards of God’s creation. Recent findings published in JAMA Network Open highlight a growing concern that impacts not only our individual well-being but also how we serve others: the widening gap between the years we live in good health and our total lifespans.

Globally, the average person lives 9.6 years burdened by disease, according to research that analyzed data from the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 183 member states. The United States leads this statistic with a “healthspan”-lifespan gap of 12.4 years, the highest among all WHO members. This means that, while Americans are living longer, they are also enduring more years of chronic disease and disability than their global counterparts. These findings, highlighted by Andre Terzic, professor of cardiovascular research at the Mayo Clinic, underscore that “worldwide, the healthspan-lifespan gap is a growing threat to healthy longevity.”

The Impact of Disease-Burdened Years

The study’s data reveals a significant challenge: while the global life expectancy rose to 72.5 years by 2019, the health-adjusted life expectancy was only 63.3 years. Over the two-decade study period, the gap increased by 13%, reflecting a troubling trend that longevity is outpacing healthspan. As Terzic notes, “these results underscore that around the world, while people live longer, they live a greater number of years burdened by disease.” For women, the gap is even wider—2.4 years longer than for men—as they face a greater chronic disease burden due to their longer average lifespans.

This phenomenon challenges us to reflect on how we care for our bodies and prioritize health within our families and communities. As St. Paul reminds us, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own” (1 Corinthians 6:19).

A Call to Action for Catholics

The Catholic Church’s emphasis on the dignity of the human person compels us to address this issue with compassion and action. Disease-burdened years do not always occur at the end of life but can accumulate over a lifetime, affecting our ability to fulfill our vocations, support our families, and serve others in the Body of Christ. This calls for a holistic approach to health, integrating physical care with spiritual practices that promote resilience and peace.

Practical steps include advocating for preventive healthcare, adopting healthy lifestyles, and providing support for those living with chronic illness. Pope Francis reminds us, “Health is not a consumer good, but a universal right: let us unite our efforts so that health services are available to all” (Address to the European Regional Meeting of the World Medical Association, 2017).

Hope and Solidarity

While the growing healthspan-lifespan gap presents challenges, it also offers an opportunity to witness to our faith by caring for the vulnerable and advocating for systemic changes. By fostering communities where the physical and spiritual needs of every individual are met, we embody Christ’s healing presence in the world.

Let us pray for the wisdom to care for our bodies as gifts from God, the courage to face health challenges with faith, and the strength to support one another in living lives that reflect the fullness of God’s love. Together, we can work to close the healthspan-lifespan gap and honor the sacredness of life at every stage.

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