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UK women 'have low life expectancy'

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Marie Claire Lifestyle

Women living in the UK have one of the lowest life expectancies in Europe, a new study published in The Lancet reveals.

With an average life expectancy of 82 years and eight months, this gives us nearly a year less than the European average.

The figures put Britain in 16th place out of 25; just above female life expectancies in Slovenia, and below that in Austria, Cyprus and Greece.

Our low ranking could be due to high levels of obesity, lung disease and some types of cancer.

France has the best life expectancy for women – at 85 years and 4 months – with Italy (85 years and 4 months) and Spain (85 years) following shortly behind.

Professor Carol Jagger from the University of Leicester, who carried out the research, said the results showed several areas of British life that could be improved to boost our lifespan.

'The NHS needs to improve across the board and we need to look at other countries to learn lessons. There is perhaps still some age discrimination which means people aren't getting the care they need,' she told the Daily Mail.

'But perhaps one of the greatest reasons is lifestyle - our diet could be improved, for example.'

The study also revealed that British men fare significantly better, coming seventh, at 79 years and five months.

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