Maybe it's all the coffee or maybe it's all the jogging and home-cooked meals, but American men are closing the longevity gap between women, according to a study by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation.
What's more, men are adding years to their lives at a faster pace than the ladies. Looking at data from the years 1989 to 2009, men's life expectancy jumped by 4.6 years on average, from 66.1 to 81.6 years, the study found. Women's longevity rose by 2.7 years in the same period, from 73.5 to 86 years.
Why? Men are less likely to be obese because they tend to exercise more than women, according to a study published in the journal Preventive Medicine, and are more likely to treat cardiovascular diseases, MSNBC reports. They have also adopted healthier habits:
“The whole (local) culture has changed,” said Dr. Thomas Farley, New York City’s health commissioner and a marathon runner. “Smoking used to be seen as cool and hip –- now it’s the opposite. Exercising and eating healthy (once were deemed) things only strange people did. Now they’re mainstream.”
Although men are closing in on women when it comes to live expectancy, health professionals interviewed by MSNBC said they don't think the sexes will ever equal out due to "higher heart-ailment risks" and increased risk of death in an auto accident.
Which counties' men saw the largest lifespan gain between 1989 and 2009? Click through the slideshow below to find out.
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