Beverly Hills Residents Live Longer Lives

The overall life expectancy is increasing and has reached an all-time high of 80.3 years in LA County, and residents of Beverly Hills exceed that average by 5.3 years.

According to a Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Study, residents of Beverly Hills live longer lives than most other Angelenos- 85.6 years! The report, titled Life Expectancy in Los Angeles County: How long do we live and why? explains why residents in some communities live longer than residents in others.

“Average life expectancy is one of the most fundamental measures of the health of a population and community,” said Dr. Jonathan E Fielding, director of Public Health. “It is an important global indicator of health that reflects the impact of major illnesses and injuries and their underlying causes, including the social, economic and environmental conditions in which we live.”

The report examines life expectancy in 103 cities and communities, and ranks each, with 1 having the longest, and 103 having the shortest life expectancy at birth. It further explores the relationship between how long people live and the social and economic circumstances within each community.

Why is it that life expectancy varies widely among cities and communities in LA County that are only minutes apart? For instance in Westmont, the life expectancy is 72.4 years while in La Canada Flintridge it is 87.8 years.

The report indicated that cities and communities with higher levels of economic hardship tend to have lower life expectancies. Those communities with the lowest life expectancies include Compton (75.7), Westmont (72.4), Lancaster (76.0).

Communities that ranked higher on the life expectancy scale are Walnut (86.6 years), Rowland Heights (85.3), East San Gabriel (85.0) and Agoura Hills (83.4).

The correlation between economic hardship and life expectancy indicated in this study are sobering. People’s risk of death and other negative health outcomes is higher among those who are poor, with less education, fewer economic resources and less social support. Furthermore, poorer communities may have limited access to heath care and education, and they are less likely to participate in health-promoting activities. They may have less access to large grocery stores, with limited access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

What else did the report find?

~ In 1991 the life expectancy for Los Angeles county residents were 75.8 years. In 2006, the number went up to 80.3 years. Overall life expectancy was approximately 2.5 years higher than the national average.

~ Asian/Pacific Islanders have an average life expectancy of 84.8 years, while for blacks it is 73.5 years.

~Women are outliving men by an average of 5.3 years. Biological differences between the sexes may play a role, but differences in risk behavior are also taken into consideration.

~Men experience a higher rate of premature death due to homicide, suicide, motor vehicle crashes, drug overdose and lung cancer than women.

~Residents of lower income and ethnic minority neighborhoods may be at an increased risk for exposure to toxic environmental hazards in their community.

The report also suggests measures cities and communities can take to rank higher on the life expectancy scale and promote community health:

~As most premature deaths in Los Angeles County are preventable, cities, communities, businesses, schools, and health organizations can work hand in hand to create a healthy future for residents in all cities. Communities can work together to promote social connectedness and community well-being.

~Designing communities that encourage active lifestyles and healthy eating is necessary. Increasing access to safe places for residents to walk, bike, play and enjoy all forms of exercise, as well as promoting and ensuring access to affordable fruits and vegetables are key.

~Investing in education and job training programs and promoting the availability of safe and affordable housing. The ability to obtain a good education, be employed and have a place to live are fundamental to our health.

~Creating a smoke-free environments to protect children and non-smokers from second hand smoking. Beverly hills has banned smoking outside of restaurants and The Santa Monica City Council just voted to ban people from smoking within 25-feet of a door or window in any multi-unit residential building.

~Providing education in all communities to reduce excessive alcohol consumption and bringing awareness to the abuse of prescription and non-prescription drugs; promoting access to mental health and substance abuse services.

While implementing these changes and following the recommendations of this report can be challenging, it is not impossible. Creating a healthy community starts in our own home. As we make healthy lifestyle changes, it enables us to become role models in our communities.

What’s going on in your city and where do you think your community will rank on the life expectancy scale? Please share your thoughts. I always enjoy hearing from you!

Tanaz Akhlaghi has just completed a challenge: 30 Days of No Excuses to Healthy Living. She enjoys cooking, spin classes and hanging out with her dogs Tyson and Monty.Tanaz Akhlaghi is an Associate Partner at Partners Trust; she specializes in residential real estate in Beverly Hills and the greater Los Angeles areas. You can connect with Tanaz on Facebook and Twitter.

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