New Forecasting Methodology Indicates More Disease and Earlier Mortality Ahead for Today’s Younger Americans

Citation

Reither, Eric N.; Olshansky, S. Jay; & Yang, Yang Claire (2011). New Forecasting Methodology Indicates More Disease and Earlier Mortality Ahead for Today’s Younger Americans. Health Affairs, 30(8), 1562-1568. PMCID: PMC3862028

Abstract

Traditional methods of projecting population health statistics, such as estimating future death rates, can give inaccurate results and lead to inferior or even poor policy decisions. A new “three-dimensional” method of forecasting vital health statistics is more accurate because it takes into account the delayed effects of the health risks being accumulated by today’s younger generations. Applying this forecasting technique to the US obesity epidemic suggests that future death rates and health care expenditures could be far worse than currently anticipated. We suggest that public policy makers adopt this more robust forecasting tool and redouble efforts to develop and implement effective obesity-related prevention programs and interventions.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1377/hlthaff.2011.0092

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2011

Journal Title

Health Affairs

Author(s)

Reither, Eric N.
Olshansky, S. Jay
Yang, Yang Claire

PMCID

PMC3862028

ORCiD

Yang, YC - 0000-0001-7279-1479