Is the Us Population Behaving Healthier?

35 Pages Posted: 6 Apr 2007 Last revised: 24 Jul 2022

See all articles by David M. Cutler

David M. Cutler

Harvard University - Department of Economics; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER); Harvard University - Harvard Kennedy School (HKS)

Edward L. Glaeser

Harvard University - Department of Economics; Brookings Institution; National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

Allison Rosen

University of Massachusetts Worcester - Medical School

Date Written: April 2007

Abstract

In the past few decades, some measures of population risk have improved, while others have deteriorated. Understanding the health of the population requires integrating these different trends. We compare the risk factor profile of the population in the early 1970s with that of the population in the early 2000s and consider the impact of a continuation of recent trends. Despite substantial increases in obesity in the past three decades, the overall population risk profile is healthier now than it was formerly. For the population aged 25-74, the 10 year probability of death fell from 9.8 percent in 1971-75 to 8.4 percent in 1999-2002. Among the population aged 55-74, the 10 year risk of death fell from 25.7 percent to 21.7 percent. The largest contributors to these changes were the reduction in smoking and better control of blood pressure. Increased obesity increased risk, but not by as large a quantitative amount. In the future, however, increased obesity may play a larger role than continued reductions in smoking. We estimate that a continuation of trends over the past three decades to the next three decades might offset about a third of the behavioral improvements witnessed in recent years.

Suggested Citation

Cutler, David M. and Glaeser, Edward L. and Rosen, Allison, Is the Us Population Behaving Healthier? (April 2007). NBER Working Paper No. w13013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=978404

David M. Cutler (Contact Author)

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Edward L. Glaeser

Harvard University - Department of Economics ( email )

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Allison Rosen

University of Massachusetts Worcester - Medical School ( email )

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