Tri-Citians’ life spans shorter than average

KENNEWICK, Wash. (AP) — New health statistics show residents of the Tri-Cities have slightly shorter life expectancies than the state and national averages.

The Tri-City Herald (http://is.gd/IkLWFU ) reports the differences range from a few months to more than a year.

In Washington, the average life expectancy for men has risen from 73.7 years in 1989 to 77.8 years in 2009. Women in Washington lived an average of 79.6 years two decades ago, and in 2009 were projected to live 81.9 years on average.

Women in Benton County have life expectancies shorter than both the national and state averages, but the men are doing better.

In Benton and Franklin Counties, both men and women fall below the state and national averages.

A health officer for Benton and Franklin county says she’s not surprised by the data since both counties have a higher than average prevalence of obesity and diabetes, which are chronic conditions that can shorten a person’s life.

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Information from: Tri-City Herald, http://www.tri-cityherald.com