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Japan has long been the world leader in longevity, but some experts are now suggesting that the island nation may soon face a drop in the rankings, MSNBC reported.

The decline could be fueled in part by the country's significant suicide rate, rising body mass index and relatively high rates of smoking, according to Dr. Christopher J.L. Murray, director for the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington in Seattle.

"In an era of economic stagnation, political turmoil, aging populations, and inadequate tobacco control, Japan does not seem to be effective in addressing its new set of health challenges," Murray wrote. （点击msnbc网站查看原文）

日本将脱离长寿国家

       据msnbc网站报道，日本人一直被认为是长寿的楷模，但如今一些专家称这个岛国在长寿榜上的排名不久就会下降。

       西雅图华盛顿大学健康度量和评估研究所的主任克里斯多夫?默里认为，部分原因是由于日本居高不下的自杀率、上升的体重指数和相对较高的吸烟率。

       默里写道：“在这样一个经济滞胀、政治混乱、老龄化、控烟不力的时代，日本在解决新一轮健康问题的挑战这方面的做法似乎并不奏效。”

(China.org.cn September 7, 2011)