While the average life expectancy in the United States has climbed significantly in the last several years, there are some states where the lifespan has not increased as much. In the 1970’s, the average life expectancy of an American was 70 years old. On average, it is much closer to 80 years of age now. Why do residents of some states not have a lifespan as long as residents of some other states? There are several underlying reasons. Various factors have been taken into consideration, such as healthcare, dietary habits, infant mortality rate and more.
1) South Carolina
South Carolina ranks 10th for the lowest life expectancy in the US. South Carolinians live an average of 77 years. The state’s healthcare system ranks 33rd out of 50 states. There is a lower per capita spent on healthcare in South Carolina than in other states. There are 26% of children and 13% of elderly residents living in poverty, which is slightly higher than the national averages. There is also a higher obesity rate, with 34% of the children being overweight. Obesity has been proven to lead to additional health problems, such as diabetes, heart conditions, and hypertension. All these medical problems can lead to premature death and impacts the life expectancy.
