UK life expectancy on the increase

The UK's life expectancy is rising, despite the nation's obesity epidemic, an expert has said.

Professor David Leon, a population expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, has analysed trends over the last 40 years.

His conclusions challenge previous claims that obesity-related health problems are slowing down the rising life expectancy trend in high-income countries.

Writing in the International Journal of Epidemiology, Professor Leon revealed that most European countries have recorded positive life expectancy trends over the last five years.

He revealed that UK deaths from heart attack and stroke have seen major reductions, which has played a key role in increasing life expectancy to 80 years in 2007.

Professor Leon observed: "Despite what many may have assumed, and without being complacent, current trends in European life expectancy are in a positive direction."

However, he suggested that it is impossible to determine what is driving these "extraordinary" trends, suggesting that the findings leave many questions unanswered.