Every year spent in school or university would significantly increase our life expectancy. This is the conclusion reached by researchers from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of Washington in Seattle in a study published in the American journal The Lancet Public Health, this Tuesday, January 23.
Based on data from 59 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, China and Brazil, experts say that the risk of mortality among people aged 18 to 49 would decrease by 2% for each year of study.
Not going to school is like smoking ten cigarettes a day
At this rate, according to scientists, completing 18 years of study (all levels of education combined), together with a healthy lifestyle, would reduce the risk of mortality by 34%.
Otherwise, not going to school would be as harmful to your health as consuming more than five alcoholic drinks a day or smoking ten cigarettes a day for ten years.
“Education is important in its own right, not just for its health benefits, but being able to quantify the magnitude of these benefits is an important step forward,” said study co-author Dr. Terje Andreas Eikemo, quoted by The Guardian.
This report also found that improvements in life expectancy were similar in rich and poor countries, regardless of gender or social class.
Consequences on the labor market
However, for Neil Davies, professor of medical statistics at University College London, interviewed by The Guardian, the rate of school absenteeism has consequences that go far “beyond the effects on health.”
“Honestly, the relationship between education and mortality is the least of our concerns given the increase in school absenteeism rates; the consequences on the labor market will probably be worse,” he told the British newspaper.
The scientist recalls that the time dedicated to studies remains closely linked to the income of individuals. A situation that risks affecting even more “the most disadvantaged students”, says Neil Davies.
While the benefits of education on life expectancy are relatively recognized, The Guardian points out that this is the first time that a study quantifies the number of years spent in school and its effects on reducing mortality.
Source: BFM TV
