Health aNd Fitness Guide

Life expectancy has been increasing in recent decades, but it is more so in the better-educated groups. People with more than 12 years of education can expect to live up to 82, whereas those with less education can only hope for 75, according to a study from Harvard Medical School. Major factors contributing to this discrepancy are tobacco and obesity. Smoking-related ailments like cancer and heart diseases account for nearly 20 per cent of the variation in mortality among these two groups. Also, the less educated are likely to have lower income and live in areas that may have health threats. The better-educated have greater access to information about diseases and advanced treatment.