Reversing the Trend: How to Fix America’s Lagging Life Expectancy 

In a world obsessed with the next big health hack, it’s time we stop to ask an important question: why is life expectancy in the United States, a country that spends nearly $5 trillion annually on healthcare, so far below other developed countries? 

The average American’s life expectancy falls short—at just ~77.5 years, nearly a decade behind countries like Japan, Australia, and Switzerland. So, how did we get here? And, more importantly, where do we go from here? 

The Decline of Life Expectancy in America 

We often assume our ancestors had short lives, but that view ignores an important factor—high rates of childhood mortality heavily influenced historical life expectancy, skewing the population average downward. Many who survived early childhood often lived into old age—like Benjamin Franklin and Betsy Ross who lived well into their 80s and the 2nd president of the United States, John Adams, lived to 90 all despite being born in the 1700s. 

As previously mentioned by Joyn Health physician, Dr. Abha Gupta Varma, in her piece titled Fitness as Medicine for the Body, Mind and Soul, today’s primary drivers of morbidity and mortality include cardiovascular diseases (stroke, heart disease, and hypertension), metabolic disease (diabetes, as an example), neurological ailments (dementia and Alzheimer’s) and cancer. These problems are engineered through modern lifestyles and a healthcare industrial complex that incentivizes disease treatment far more than prevention. 

This isn’t just a healthcare problem—it’s a societal one, with many adjacent and sub-industries profiting from illness being omnipresent. American food and chemical industries flood the market with ultra-processed, unhealthy products that fuel the very diseases our healthcare system simultaneously suffers and profits from treating. It’s an extremely unfortunate and deeply ingrained cycle, where corporations thrive at the expense of the population’s collective well-being. 

The Profit-Driven Healthcare Trap 

The United States healthcare system is structured in a way that produces much more revenue from illness than wellness. Hospitals, medical device companies, and pharmaceutical manufacturers earn the most when patients need frequent treatments, medications, and surgeries—making chronic disease a healthy business model. This presents a double-edged sword because when we do get sick, we 100% want and need the infrastructure to be poised to care for us in the highest-quality, lowest cost, and most expedient fashion possible. 

On the flip side, people who maintain good health through proper diet, exercise, and prevention aren’t as financially valuable to these industries. This unfortunate reality fuels a healthcare structure where more resources are funneled into disease treatment rather than into meaningful prevention strategies.  

Changing this trajectory requires a complete overhaul of how we view and value health. Promoting wellness means rethinking the success metrics, shifting from a “disease management” model to one that measures success through preventative care outcomes, quality of life, and overall longevity. Until we shift our focus from treating illness to promoting health, we will continue to see life expectancy lag. The promising upside here is that this movement can and is starting with the most important stakeholder in the entire equation: you. You as a consumer of healthcare. You as a patient. You as a caregiver for aging adults and/or children in your life. You can actively make changes today, right now, to make a last impact on this trajectory. Where to begin? Let’s look at prioritizing metabolic health first. 

Metabolic Health Is the Key to Longevity 

Shockingly, less than 7% of Americans have optimal metabolic health​. This needs to be the foundation of any conversation about longevity. But in a world inundated with trendy hacks and niche treatments, who do you trust to guide you? Without a knowledgeable, trusted partner that completely knows you to help filter out the noise, it’s easy to believe misleading information or invest in treatments that may ultimately harm more than help. 

Improving your metabolic health starts with foundational lifestyle adjustments—quality sleep, nutrient-dense foods, stress management, and physical activity. At Joyn Health, we believe that genuine, lasting health requires a proactive, personalized approach that goes beyond quick fixes and focuses on your individual needs. Here’s how we can help: 

Focus on Prevention: With so many quick fixes out there, a proactive, customized approach makes all the difference. At Joyn, our preventative care model emphasizes addressing underlying health drivers over quick fixes for a sustainable path to wellness. 

Rethink Food Choices: We work with you to prioritize whole, nutrient-dense foods, helping you avoid harmful additives, preservatives, and toxins so common today. Our approach is personalized to meet your unique metabolic needs, creating a diet that fuels long-term health rather than following fleeting trends. 

Build a Trusted Health Partnership: At Joyn, we are more than advisors—we are your true comprehensive health partners. We take the time to understand all of your unique needs and goals, delivering guidance that’s tailored, transparent, and rooted in what’s best for you. And, yes, your Joyn physician is also here when things like a UTI, migraine, or perimenopause strike. 

Educate and Empower: With Joyn, you’re equipped with the tools and insights to make informed, confident choices across every area of life—from nutrition to stress management and beyond. Our aim is to empower you to take charge of your health journey, backed by a partner who truly knows you.