The Health Foundation thinktank, which analysed data from the Office for National Statistics and the World Health Organization, found that healthy life expectancy for men in the UK fell from 62.9 years in 2012-14 to 60.7 years in 2022-24. The proportion of life a man spends in good health dropped from 79% to 77%. Dr Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation, said: 'These findings reveal a stark truth – the UK's health is going backwards.'
In more than 90% of the UK, people now start suffering from illness before the state pension age of 66. The UK is the most obese country in western Europe, and mental ill health has surged to unprecedented levels, the analysis found. 'The lights on the dashboard are flashing red. We are the most obese country in western Europe, mental ill health has surged to unprecedented levels and more people than ever before are living with chronic health conditions,' Dr Dixon said.
These findings reveal a stark truth – the UK's health is going backwards.
More people than ever before are living with chronic health conditions in the UK. Deaths are rising among 25- to 49-year-olds, and growing numbers of 16- to 24-year-olds are not in education, employment or training because of a physical or mental health condition. A record 2.8 million people are too sick to work.
Obesity, high numbers of deaths caused by alcohol, drugs, and suicide help explain the loss of two years of illness-free life, according to the analysis. People's worsening self-reported health and deep health inequalities between rich and poor are also key factors. The Health Foundation said the UK's deterioration is not inevitable but reflects country-specific factors.
The lights on the dashboard are flashing red. We are the most obese country in western Europe, mental ill health has surged to unprecedented levels and more people than ever before are living with chronic health conditions.
Neither Covid nor overall life expectancy, which remains stable, lie behind the fall. The UK fell from 14th to 20th in the 21-nation international league table for healthy life expectancy, with only the US below the UK. 'The UK's health is declining and falling behind most other comparable nations,' the analysis concluded.