The Death Rate Is Rising
June 15, 2016
Story at-a-glance
By Dr. Mercola For the first time 10 years, the death rate for people living in the U.S. has risen. Preliminary data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests both the overall number of deaths and the rate adjusted for the increasing likelihood of death as people age, rose in 2015.1 At the same time, the CDC also released numbers from one of the largest and broadest health surveys in the U.S., finding rising rates of obesity and diabetes. 2 Although in the past several decades the number of people who die from cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and stroke has declined, this year the number of deaths related to CVD has increased.3 Declining rates of death from multiple sources, including diabetes, cancers and CVD have been attributed to growing technological advancements in medical treatment protocols. However, there comes a point when technology and treatments cannot overcome the effects of poor lifestyle choices. Measurement of Death RateThe death rate is measured as a number of people who die per 100,000. The overall rate has been declining in the U.S. since 1935. In 1935, the CDC published a death rate of 1,860.1 persons per 100,000, and in 2014 that number was 723.2 persons per 100,000.4,5 In 2015, the number rose to 729.2 persons per 100,000. Although single-year improvements in mortality have been small since 1935, there has been an overall 60 percent decline in death rate between 1935 and 2010. Despite declining rates, every year the leading causes of death were heart disease, cancer and stroke.6 The rise in death rate in 2015 is significant as it represents a larger increase in death rate than has been experienced since 1993, when the rate rose by 8.8 people per 100,000 or an overall increase of 1.7 percent.7 The rates for the leading causes of death that year were stable, but there was a significant rise in the number of deaths from HIV. What Caused the Rise in Death Rate?On the surface, the CDC report lists a rise in several causes of death, including suicide, Alzheimer's disease and drug overdose.8 The latter refers primarily to opioid prescription overdoses, which now far surpasses illicit drug overdoses. In the past, although there have been increased numbers in specific groups noted, an increase in death rate for the entire population has been a relatively rare occurrence. As of yet, the data from 2015 is preliminary and has not been completely broken down and evaluated. Using data from 1999 to 2014, researchers have demonstrated a rise in death rate in middle-class whites living in the U.S. and have found some disturbing trends. Early evaluation of data revealed an increasing number of people who die earlier than expected from suicide and drug overdose.9 However, further exploration of CDC records by Commonwealth Fund researchers uncovered statistics that overdose and suicide could account for only 40 percent of the rise in early deaths. The remaining increases were from illnesses related to obesity. Heart disease, respiratory disease and diabetes were responsible for the disparity between the percentage of expected declining deaths and the actual number of deaths.10 Researchers called this number the mortality gap, and found it accounted for an extra 100 deaths in middle-aged Caucasians per 100,000. Evaluation of this data indicates that not only are more middle-aged white Americans getting sick with diseases that usually kill older people, when they do get sick, they aren't getting better. Obesity Rates ClimbWith an expanding waistline comes an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, osteoarthritis and gout. High blood pressure also places you at greater risk for heart disease and stroke. Every year since 1957, the CDC has taken a survey of individuals 18 years and older, asking them about their health. From the data in 2015, they learned that less people were smoking, more had health insurance and more considered themselves to be obese.11 The uptick of obesity amounted to half a percentage point, rising from 29.9 percent to 30.4 percent of respondents over the age of 18. However, it's the continuation of a trend that began in 1985, when most states began reporting data to the CDC.12 In 1992 the majority of states reported rates of obesity at or lower than 14 percent. This represents a rise of 15 percent over a 23-year period. Although already disturbing enough, the CDC's numbers may actually be too low. In 2012, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) found 34.9 percent of adults 20 years and older were obese. For this survey, researchers measured the height and weight of more than 9,000 people living in the U.S. instead of relying on self-reported data.13 This approach is likely more accurate since many people overestimate their height, which then affects their body mass index (BMI) indicator. Your BMI is a comparison of your weight to your height, using a mathematical equation. This number is then plotted on a graph and compared against normative values. A BMI of 30 or greater is considered obese and 25 to 29.9 is considered overweight.14 These numbers may not accurately portray your obesity level if your body fat content is lower than normal. Moreover, two brand new studies15 published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) show that 35 percent of American men, 40 percent of women and 17 percent of children and adolescents are obese, with a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. Nearly 10 percent of women and 5.5 percent of men now fall into the class 3 obesity category with a BMI of 40 or higher. How You Can Prevent Becoming a StatisticWhile it is premature to fault the rise in death rate on one specific illness, even the preliminary data indicates an increase in deaths from illnesses commonly associated with obesity. Weight loss is a complex and complicated process, involving many bodily systems and psychological choices. However, while there are intricate body mechanisms at work, it boils down to simple choices you make each day. Use this list of nine strategies as a guide for change. They may significantly increase your potential for successful weight loss. Remember to implement each change slowly, over time. If you make one addition every six weeks, you may experience results you didn't expect to both your weight goals and your overall health. Remember, success comes when you put knowledge into action.
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