A new study from the University of East Anglia has found that the steady rise in life expectancy across Europe has slowed significantly since 2011.
The research, published in The Lancet Public Health, points to poor diets, lack of physical activity, and rising obesity as key reasons behind this slowdown.
The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role in reducing life expectancy in recent years.
Of all the countries studied, England experienced the biggest slowdown, raising concerns that younger generations may not live longer than their parents or grandparents. Researchers urge stronger government policies to promote healthier lifestyles and prevent early deaths.
Why Has Life Expectancy Growth Slowed?
During the 20th century, medical advances and public health improvements helped extend life expectancy year after year. Between 1990 and 2011, steady declines in deaths from heart disease and cancer were responsible for continued improvements. However, this progress began to slow around 2011 and varies widely across different countries.
Lead researcher Professor Nick Steel explained that the primary reason for this slowdown is the increasing burden of heart disease, driven by:
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Poor diet
Even though medications for blood pressure and cholesterol have improved, they haven’t been enough to counteract the damage caused by unhealthy diets and obesity.
The COVID-19 pandemic also had a major impact on life expectancy between 2019 and 2021, but researchers stress that the slowdown began years before the pandemic.
Which Countries Are Affected the Most?
The research team analyzed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2021, a large-scale study that tracks health trends worldwide. They examined changes in life expectancy and causes of death across 19 European countries, including the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Scandinavia.
Findings showed that:
- Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark, and Belgium managed to maintain higher life expectancy after 2011, thanks to strong government policies promoting heart health and disease prevention.
- England and the rest of the UK saw the worst declines in life expectancy growth. These countries also had higher risks of heart disease and cancer, which were linked to poor diets and obesity.
Prof. Steel emphasized that government action can make a difference, noting that countries with effective public health policies were more resilient to negative health trends.
Have We Reached the Limit for Life Expectancy?
Despite the recent slowdown, researchers do not believe we have reached a biological ceiling for human lifespan. In many countries, older people are still living longer, meaning there is room for improvement in reducing early deaths.
Prof. Steel noted that preventable deaths at younger ages—caused by unhealthy lifestyles—have a significant impact on life expectancy averages. If governments take stronger action on health risks like obesity and poor diet, life expectancy could start rising again.
Call for Action: Prevention Over Treatment
Public health experts are calling for bold action to address the root causes of life expectancy stagnation.
Sarah Price, NHS England’s National Director of Public Health, said that prevention must be a priority. While healthcare services help people manage obesity and high blood pressure, she stressed that treating disease is not enough—society must prevent health problems before they start.
The NHS has already taken steps to address these issues, such as:
- A 12-week digital Weight Management Program, which has helped hundreds of thousands of people lose weight.
- Annual blood pressure checks for over a million people in NHS pharmacies to detect heart disease risk earlier.
However, experts warn that more action is needed beyond the healthcare system. Prof. John Newton from the University of Exeter said that while the findings are concerning, they also show that change is possible if key risk factors—like obesity, diet, and physical activity—are properly addressed.
Final Thoughts
This study highlights a troubling slowdown in life expectancy growth across Europe, particularly in the UK. While advances in medicine continue to extend lifespans for older people, rising rates of obesity, poor diet, and inactivity are cutting lives short.
The good news is that these health risks can be reduced with effective policies and lifestyle changes. By promoting healthier eating, more physical activity, and better public health initiatives, governments and individuals can work together to reverse the trend and extend healthy lifespans for future generations.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies that olive oil may help you live longer, and vitamin D could help lower the risk of autoimmune diseases.
The research findings can be found in The Lancet Public Health.
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