Vitality report highlights global increase in years spent in ill health

Average of 12 years in the UK

John Brazier
clock • 2 min read

New research from Vitality shows people are now living longer in poor health with a decreasing “healthspan”.

According to its research, Vitality found that people are living a greater proportion of their lives in ill health than they were 30 years ago, spending an average of 12 years in ill health, 14% longer than in 1990. This rises of 15% on a global level, relating to 8.5-9.6 years spent in ill health which equates to approximately 18% of the average lifespan. The research found that people are now spending larger proportions of their lives in ill health due to an increase in chronic conditions and lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions and mental health w...

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