Description: This article is an introduction to the topic of mortality projections and their impact on social security systems. The article reviews two life expectancy graphs and overall trends in life expectancy by gender at birth and age 65 in the United States, Canada and the UK.

Description: Papers: When Danes have only 15 years to live: Implications of linking retirement age with life expectancy – Jesus-Adrian Alvarez, Malene Kallestrup-Lamb, Ph.D., Søren Kjærgaard, James W. Vaupel, Ph.D. - University of Southern Denmark A Study into the Impact of Pre-Programed Genetic Health Risks in Retirement Planning – N.V. Subramanyan, Prudential Assurance Company Limited, Singapore

Description: The effect on mortality of the reduction in smoking and the increase obesity in the U.S. is estimated based on historical and projected patterns.

Description: This is one of eight essays from the collection: 2020 Living to 100 Essays.

Description: This graph indicates the overall historical trend in life expectancy by gender at birth.

Description: Shows the average historical and estimated annual mortality improvement by age grouping for the three countries, both in terms of long averages and the ultimate level assumed.

Description: This is an example of male life expectancy at age 65 from the United States.

Description: The percentage of the population who are obese has grown dramatically worldwide over the last several decades, although stabilizing recently in the United States. Studies have found the effects on mortality to be inconsistent and controversial because of methodological differences and the complexity of the relationship between obesity and mortality. This paper discusses this relationship and sheds light on the likely effects of this epidemic. Issues associated with the so-called obesity-mortality paradox, where mortality experience is lower for those individuals who are overweight and in some who are obese compared with the mortality of those in the normal weight category, are examined. Although certain recently reported studies of the relationship between mortality and obesity indicate that obesity is related to a reduced percent of additional mortality, this may in part be due to the shorter average time that those currently obese have been exposed to their condition. Nevertheless, the amount of health care costs and rates of disability associated with being obese are significant, contributing to the increase in overall health care costs as they become more numerous and age. Although obesity is being addressed with a great deal of activity and publicity, they will continue to prove challenging for individuals and society to manage and overcome.

Description: These are the discussant comments for the concurrent session 4A: Longevity in the Public Eye from the January 4-6, 2017 Living to 100 Symposium in Orlando.

Description: This session is an outgrowth from the January 2002 symposium co-sponsored by the Society of Actuaries that explored current thinking on advanced age mortality. Panelists discuss key societal, business and family questions raised by this topic. From the Record of the Society of Actuaries, Volume 28, No. 3, Session 95pd.