The increase in life expectancy of Europe’s residents has slowed since 2011, according to a study by the University of East Anglia, published in The Lancet Public Health.

As the study, nutrition, physical inactivity and obesity, as well as the Covid pandemic, are largely responsible for this deceleration.

The research team studied data from the Institute of Health Measurement and Evaluation and in particular the greatest research on the quantification of health problems “Global Burden of Disease 2021”. He compared changes to life expectancy, causes of death and the exposure of the population to risk factors throughout Europe during periods 1990-2011, 2011-2019 and 2019-2021.

During the period 1990-2011, the decline in deaths from cardiovascular disease and cancers continued to lead to a significant improvement in life expectancy. However, since 2011 onwards the steady improvement has slowed down. In particular, it was found that deaths from cardiovascular disease were the main cause of the decline in improvement in life expectancy during the period 2011-2019. After 2011, significant risks, such as obesity, high blood pressure and high cholesterol either increased or stopped to improve in almost all countries. Also, the Covid pandemic was responsible for the life expectancy reductions observed in 2019-2021.

The study studied 20 countries, namely Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Of all countries, England has experienced the highest slowdown in life expectancy.

Other countries such as Norway, Iceland, Sweden, Denmark and Belgium have maintained Best life expectancy after 2011 And they saw reduced effects on heart disease, with the help of government policies.

In the period 2019-2021 there was a total decrease in the average annual life expectancy in all countries. The largest decline was observed in Greece and England. In Greece, it is noted for this period that in addition to the deaths of respiratory infections and other health problems regarding COVID-19, a small part of the decrease in life expectancy was attributed to deaths by neoplasms. The neoplasms were the cause of a decrease in life expectancy for Greece (as well as Germany and Scotland) and during the period 2011-2019.

In the survey it was found that despite the recession, the life expectancy for the elderly in many countries continued to improve, “which shows that We have not yet reached a natural macroz ceilingOh, ”as the Head of the Research, Professor of Norwich Medical School at the University of East Anglia, Nick Style.

Scientists note that in order to extend our years of life we ​​must give priority to a more healthy lifestyle at our younger age. They also call on governments to invest in public health initiatives.