Although women have historically lived longer than men in nearly every place in the world, in recent years the longevity gap between the sexes has expanded.
Data published in 2023 in JAMA Internal Medicine found that in 2021 women were expected to live nearly six years longer than men in the U.S. – the largest gap in life expectancy between the sexes in nearly three decades. That report says life expectancy for a woman in the U.S. was 80.2 years; for men, it was 74.8.
Dr. Maureen Harry, program chair of the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program at Keiser University’s Port St. Lucie campus, says that a combination of biological and behavioral factors is responsible for the divergence in lifespans.
“Behavioral and social patterns play a key role in the disparity,” says Dr. Harry. “Men are more inclined to be binge drinkers. More of them work in dangerous jobs like law enforcement and military combat. Men are far less likely than women to wear seat belts. And they are disproportionately affected by gun violence.
“Women, on the other hand, seek medical advice and early treatment in much greater numbers and often begin treatment before a disease or illness progresses. And they will start doing it at a much younger age than men do.
“Another important factor that is gender-related is where in our bodies fat is stored,” says Dr. Harry. “Men store it in the abdominal area, close to the organs. Women, however, tend to store it under the skin, away from the organs.”
Although where we store fat is basically out of our control, WebMD explains that it’s not just in real estate that location matters.
Visceral fat, stored deep in the belly and around organs, has a major impact on the liver, an organ critical to metabolism. It’s also linked to cardiovascular disease, cancer, asthma and dementia.
Blood that leaves visceral fat goes directly to the liver and brings with it chemicals made by the fat tissue, including fatty acids, hormones and pro-inflammatory chemicals. We build up more visceral fat with age.
Men tend to have more visceral fat than women.
Subcutaneous fat is the fat you can “pinch.” Found throughout the body just beneath your skin, subcutaneous fat plays an important role in protecting your health, although having too much can put you at risk for diabetes, fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and high blood pressure.
Women have more subcutaneous fat.
Unfortunately for the female population, the fact that women are outliving men doesn’t necessarily mean they are living better. Women tend to have shorter health spans – the number of healthy years a person enjoys – than men, says Bérénice Benayoun, an associate professor at the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology. And women are generally more physically frail than men in old age.
“While it’s true that women live longer, they don’t necessarily live a healthier life,” says Dr. Harry.
“For instance, women are much more likely to suffer from depression and other mental illnesses due to their multitasking,” Dr. Harry says.
Psychology Today concurs, stating that women are twice as likely to deal with depression as are men. One common cause is fluctuating hormone levels. Others include the fact that women tend to be more invested in – and dependent on – relationships, which causes them to suffer more from relationship problems than men do, and the fact that women come under greater stress than men.
Hormone levels affect more than women’s risk for depression, according to Dr. Harry. “Most women go through menopause at about 50, marking the end of their reproductive years,” she explains. “That also marks the end of their estrogen production, increasing the need for vitamins and supplements to offset the natural protection that estrogen has provided.
“Without these important additions to their diets, women are more at risk for chronic diseases such as osteoporosis and cardiac issues.”
Osteoporosis causes you to lose bone density more rapidly after menopause due to decreased levels of estrogen. It isn’t entirely preventable, but women can take steps to strengthen their bones by eating foods high in calcium – like cheese, yogurt, spinach or fortified cereals – and adding a calcium supplement.
The best ways to prevent post-menopause heart disease is to eat healthy and nutritious foods, get regular physical activity and avoid tobacco products. Managing chronic conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes and high blood pressure also are essential to lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Omega-3 fatty acids and folic acid are two supplements generally believed to provide cardiovascular protection.
Dr. Maureen Harry has served as the Bachelor of Science in Nursing Program Chair at Keiser University’s Port St. Lucie campus since 2019. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing from Florida Atlantic University in 2012, and her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Capella University in 2020. She is on the governing board of HCA Florida St. Lucie Hospital.
