The United States is two to three years behind most Western countries in terms of life expectancy -- it ranks 29th among all United Nations' member nations. Highest is Andorra, with an average life expectancy of 83. The U.S. magical age is 78. Still, we're making some progress in the life expectancy arena.

• Babies born in 2006 have an average life expectancy about four months greater than babies born in 2005.
  
  

• The male-female difference has declined over the past 15 years, from eight years to five years.
  
  

• Blacks have been gaining on whites.
  
  
• Flu and pneumonia deaths are dropping -- there were 22,000 fewer deaths between 2005 and 2006.
  
  
• Infant mortality rates are dropping.
  
  

• Deaths from stroke, lower respiratory diseases, heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes are on the decline.
  
  

While it's too soon to tell if some of these occurrences are caused by statistical fluke or real trends, there's a possibility the drop in diabetes deaths is the biggest researchers have seen in a long time. And that, my friends, would be some pretty good news.

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Icelandic men have set a world record. They have the longest life expectancy in the world, says the agency Statistics Iceland.

Icelandic men lived an average of 79.4 years in 2007. Japanese men come in second, living 78.6 years.

Experts have no explanation for this occurrence and make no connection between age and the lifestyle factors we are all so consumed with, like diet, exercise, stress, and sleep.

Incidentally, Icelandic women are doing pretty well too, with a life expectancy of 82.9 years.

How do Americans stack up against the Icelandic population? In 2005, the CDC reported that a child in the United States could expect to live for an average of 78 years, up for 69.6 years in 1955.

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I've known for a while that vitamin D is essential and that one of the best ways to soak it up is to enjoy a bit of time in the sun (but not too much as we all still have to worry about skin cancer). I didn't realize though, until I read this article, just how essential the vitamin really is.

The piece points out that taking vitamin D supplements, along with a bit of sunshine, aids with conditions such as chronic pain and muscle weakness, it strengthens bones and those with deficiencies might even be at a higher risk of dying from diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Plus, the study discussed in the article, found that taking supplements may increase life expectancy by as much as two years. Not bad for a daily supplement. Those quoted in the article stress that it isn't enough to just garner your daily dose from the sun. Supplements must be taken as well, on a regular basis.

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It's no secret that obesity is not only on the rise, but has become one of (if not the) biggest health concern for people of all ages in North America, Europe, Australia and various other countries/continents. The bloggers at That's Fit have covered a variety of topics relating to the subject including everything from new ambulances equipped especially to transport obese patients (Rigel Gregg) to how overweight patients have a higher likelihood of complications after surgery (Bethany Sanders).

One of the most disturbing things I've read about the increase in overweight adults and kids, is this article which reports on a Canadian study that says kids aged 2 to 17 will be the first generation ever to have a lower life expectancy than their parents because of skyrocketing obesity rates. According to the study, approximately one-quarter of Canadian kids (rates are similar in American depending on what source you check) are extremely overweight and at a higher risk of a number of conditions including Type 2 diabetes, joint problems, heart attack and stroke.

The article mentions that one way to help kids lose weight is to change the views that overeating is alright and that exercise isn't cool. It also mentions the problems associated with marketing junk food and fast food to kids. In addition, parents need to help their children make better choices when it comes to both food and exercise. What do you think is the key to lowering obesity rates among kids?

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Recent numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows two very different bits of news: on one hand certain parts of the Australian population are among the longest living in the world, while other populations are among the shortest.

The nations capital, Canberra, boasts the longest life spans -- with women living an average of 84 years and men 79.9 years. But the indigenous Australians don't fair so well, with the average dropping about 17 years -- only 64.8 years on average for woman and 59.4 years for men. Why the dramatic gap? Poverty, substance abuse, and limited access to healthcare are the suspected culprits. Fortunately, these groups make up a very small percentage of the entire population of Australia.

Only 3 places in the world beat Australia's over-all life expectancy averages for men and women: Iceland, Japan, and Hong Kong.

I wish I could see where the U.S. ranks on that list.

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