Latinos Live Longer than Whites. But Why?

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U.S. Latinos have gained 2.6 years in life expectancy in the past 14 years, and live longer than whites and blacks, according to new CDC data, the Washington Post reports.

Latino longevity ratesLatinos have the highest life expectancy of the three groups: 81.8 years.

This shows the “Hispanic paradox,” in which Latinos have good longevity despite tending to have lower income, less education, less health coverage, and much higher rates of certain health conditions, including obesity, diabetes, heart disease and certain cancers.

Reasons for Latino longevity are unclear.

Some experts cite Latinos’ lower rates of smoking and drinking alcohol, or that they work more physically demanding jobs and are more fit. Some credit the population’s younger age, compared to the white and black populations. Some say data on Latinos do not accurately account for disease and mortality rates.

Others say close social relationships may be important.

“Hispanic cultural values such as simpatia (importance of displaying kindness and maintaining interpersonal harmony), familismo (importance of keeping warm family relationships), and personalismo (valuing and building warm relationships) may help to build strong social support itself, [which] is associated with better health and lower mortality risk,” the Huffington Post reported.

In the end, no one knows for sure. But the Hispanic Paradox remains.

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Healthcare Access

By The Numbers By The Numbers

25.1

percent

of Latinos remain without health insurance coverage

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