Health and Nutrition
Why Women Live Longer but Suffer More: New Global Study Reveals Gender Health Gap
A study finds that women live longer with more chronic pain and mental health issues, while men face higher rates of fatal diseases
- Yitzhak Eitan
- פורסם א' אייר התשפ"ד

#VALUE!
A global study examining the top 20 causes of disease has revealed striking gender differences in how illness affects men and women. The research found that men are more likely to suffer from deadly conditions, while women tend to suffer from long-term, non-fatal illnesses that cause significant discomfort and disability.
Why Do Women Live Longer But Feel Worse?
The study clearly shows why women tend to live longer than men — but also why they experience more years in poor health. The findings, published in The Lancet Public Health, analyzed the impact of various health conditions on illness and mortality rates around the world.
According to the researchers, non-fatal conditions such as musculoskeletal disorders, mental health issues, and chronic headaches tend to affect women more severely. In contrast, men are more likely to be affected by conditions that directly lead to death, such as cardiovascular diseases and accidents.
What the Experts Say
Dr. Luisa Sorio Flor, lead author of the study from the University of Washington, explains: “This report makes it clear that, over the past 30 years, global progress in health has been uneven. Women may live longer, but they are spending more of those years in poor health. There's been limited progress in reducing the burden of non-fatal conditions, which highlights the urgent need to focus more on the physical and mental health limitations women face, especially in older age.”
Men, by comparison, are increasingly experiencing higher burdens of fatal illnesses. A key point the study emphasizes is the role of biological and physiological differences between males and females that evolve over time, causing them to experience health and disease in different ways.
What Are Women Most Affected By?
- Lower back pain
Depressive disorders
Headaches and migraines
Anxiety
Alzheimer’s disease
On average, women live longer, but suffer more, whereas men suffer less, but die much sooner.
This study highlights the need for health systems to broaden their focus to include improving quality of life, especially for women dealing with chronic, non-lethal conditions.