Description: Over the past few years, the SOA Research Institute’s Mortality and Longevity Strategic Research Program has initiated studies to provide insights into the overall historical U.S. population mortality trends. During this webcast, presenters will discuss how causes of death are influencing the trends. Various perspectives will be considered including, age, period, cohort effects and cause of death mortality by socioeconomic decile/quintile. Additionally, obesity and the impact on mortality and morbidity costs in the U.S. and Canada will be examined.