Life expectancy in the United States fares poorly in international comparisons, primarily because of high mortality rates above age 50. Its low ranking is often blamed on a poor performance by the health care system rather than on behavioral or social factors. This paper presents evidence on the...

Life expectancy in the United States fares poorly in international comparisons, primarily because of high mortality rates above age 50. Its low ranking is often blamed on a poor performance by the health care system rather than on behavioral or social factors. This paper presents evidence on the...

Diverging trends in life expectancy at age 50 : a look at causes of death / Dana A. Glei, France Mesle, and Jacques Vallin -- Are international differences in health similar to international differences in life-expectancy? / Eileen M. Crimmins, Krista Garcia, and Jung Ki Kim -- Contribution of...

FrontMatter -- Acknowledgments -- Contents -- Summary -- 1 Difference Between Life Expectancy in the United States and Other High-Income Countries -- 2 Causes of Death, Health Indicators, and Divergence in Life Expectancy -- 3 The Role of Obesity -- 4 The Role of Physical Activity -- 5 The Role...