In Grants Pass, a small rural town in Southern Oregon, a disabled homeless individual picks up their daily medication at a church shelter while two others wait in line for a meal. This scene captures a troubling reality highlighted by a recent study on health trends among rural residents, particularly those aged 60 and older. The findings reveal alarmingly high rates of smoking, obesity, and chronic diseases, which can lead to poorer health outcomes as these individuals age.
Many Americans aspire to escape the pressures of urban life in favor of a simpler existence in the countryside. However, this desire for “rural simplicity” comes with a warning: those who make this choice might face a shorter lifespan.
A team of researchers from the University of Southern California published their findings in The Journal of Rural Health, revealing a stark contrast in expected healthy lifespan between urban and rural populations. For urban men, the estimated healthy lifespan after the age of 60 is about 17.5 years, compared to just 15.7 years for rural men. For women, the gap is narrower; urban women are expected to enjoy around 19.3 healthy years beyond 60, while their rural counterparts can expect about 18.7 healthy years.
Over the past two decades, the disparity in expected healthy lifespan between these two environments has more than doubled. Since the late 1990s, urban men’s anticipated healthy lifespan has improved by a full year, while the health expectancy for rural men has stagnated. This growing divide suggests that while overall population health is on the rise, rural areas are falling further behind.
The researchers analyzed various contributing factors, including chronic diseases, disability rates, and smoking prevalence. They found that rural areas report significantly higher incidences of smoking, obesity, and chronic health conditions among those aged 60—key indicators of deteriorating health in the future. Jack Chapel, the lead author from USC’s Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics, stated that the elevated rates of chronic diseases are crucial factors affecting healthy aging in rural communities.
Geographical and educational disparities also contribute significantly to these differences. The South exhibits the largest urban-rural health expectancy gap, while the Midwest shows minimal variation. Education plays a vital role; seniors with college degrees generally experience better health outcomes across all regions. Yet, even among those with similar education levels, rural residents still trail behind their urban peers in expected healthy lifespans.
Co-author Elizabeth Currid-Halkett highlighted that while education is an essential factor, issues like smoking, high rates of obesity, and cardiovascular diseases are driving increased morbidity and mortality among rural men.
Finally, the study indicates that targeting interventions solely at the elderly may not be enough to close the urban-rural health gap. Bryan Tysinger, director of health policy simulation at the Schaeffer Center, stressed the necessity of implementing lifestyle changes earlier in life and enhancing community and economic resources in rural regions to foster meaningful progress.
