journal · Public research summary
Impact of healthy lifestyle factors on life expectancies in the US population
Five versus zero study factors: published life-expectancy contrasts of 14.0 years in women (95% CI 11.8–16.2) and 12.2 in men (10.1–14.2).
Educational only. Associations do not establish individual risk or diagnosis. Read the original sources and limitations. Editorial review: 2026-10-06.
Citation
Li Y et al. · Circulation · 2018 · DOI: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.117.032047
Study design
Cohorts plus life-table modeling
Population
78,865 women and 44,354 men in US health-professional cohorts, combined with US population data; estimates at age 50.
Measured outcome
Modeled total life expectancy
Finding
Five versus zero study factors: published life-expectancy contrasts of 14.0 years in women (95% CI 11.8–16.2) and 12.2 in men (10.1–14.2).
Limitations
Observational/model-based; not a personalized forecast. Cohorts overlap with Li 2020, so these are not independent replications. Historical score included moderate alcohol and a BMI range; neither is a universal prescription. Do not start drinking.
Habit topics
Move through the week; Build a plant-rich plate; Stay smoke-free; get support to quit; Read body-size findings in context
Interpretation
Research comparisons are not personal lifespan predictions. Years from different studies, habits, populations and outcomes cannot be added. Supporting studies do not validate the numeric estimate of another study.
Explore the interactive atlas
journalCompared with no leisure-time activity, 300–449 brisk-walking-equivalent minutes/week was associated with 4.2 more years (95% CI 4.0–4.5); 150–299 minutes with 3.4 (3.2–3.6).
Read findings, sources and limitationsjournalFour/five versus zero factors: women 34.4 versus 23.7 disease-free years; men 31.1 versus 23.5. Differences of 10.7 and 7.6 are calculated from rounded endpoints.
Read findings, sources and limitationsjournalQuitting at ages 25–34, 35–44 or 45–54 was associated with about 10, 9 or 6 more years, respectively, versus continuing to smoke.
Read findings, sources and limitationsjournalStopping at approximately 60, 50, 40 or 30 was associated with about 3, 6, 9 or 10 years relative to continuing.
Read findings, sources and limitationsjournalAssociations flattened around 6,000–8,000 steps/day in adults 60+ and 8,000–10,000 in younger adults. These are observed dose-response ranges, not mandatory targets.
Read findings, sources and limitationsjournalHigher dietary fibre intake was associated with lower mortality and several noncommunicable diseases. Trials found improvements in bodyweight, systolic pressure and cholesterol.
Read findings, sources and limitationsjournalPer 28 g/day higher nut intake, pooled relative risk of all-cause mortality was 0.78 (95% CI 0.72–0.84).
Read findings, sources and limitationsjournalAdjusted hazard ratios versus reduced-fat advice were 0.69 (95% CI 0.53–0.91) with extra-virgin olive oil and 0.72 (0.54–0.95) with nuts.
Read findings, sources and limitations