# What's your life expectancy? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 5, 2022, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257 "2022-01-05T12:30:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 5:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/21 "2022-01-05T17:31:37Z")
When I reached retirement age, I had the option to defer my state pension in return for increased benefits later on. Part of the decision-making process was to make an estimate of how long I might live to benefit from the extra pension and that site came up with very nearly the same result as I did. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/22 "2022-01-05T17:36:27Z")
It says I should live to 91. Will human civilization even last another 50 years before it collapses into chaos?! šŸ˜³ ---
**Author:** ![Pardel-Lux](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pardel-lux/32/20182_2.png) [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/23 "2022-01-05T17:43:17Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > But it could mean that they have a vested interest in erring on the side of longevity. Even more so if you indicate a really high income. If your income is high enough it does not matter how much you smoke & eat and how little you work out: you will live forever and need them. > [@Jasmine](#): > > Will human civilization even last another 50 years before it collapses into chaos?! I am glad to read that most people here will get older than me. Serves you right. ---
**Author:** ![velomont](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/8491ac/32.png) [@velomont](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/velomont)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/24 "2022-01-05T17:43:25Z")
I got 92, which is 30 yrs from now. And I agree with Jasmineā€™s ā€œWill human civilization even last another 50 years before it collapses into chaos?!ā€ except that Iā€™m sincerely worried about 20 or 30 years before the collapse. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/25 "2022-01-05T18:16:25Z")
I got 95, but I thought I might have fudged a bit at ā€˜5-7 drinks per weekā€™, so I went back and set it to the highest setting of ā€˜8 or more drinks per weekā€™ and it only dropped to 93. Iā€™ll drink to that! šŸ» šŸŗ (not really, still getting over Covid, plus I always do a dry January) ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/26 "2022-01-05T18:17:38Z")
Whoo hoo! Iā€™m only going to lose 2.9 years if I donā€™t cut back drinking! šŸ· ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/27 "2022-01-05T18:23:11Z")
Well, bunky, when the time comes, youā€™re going to want those 2.9 years! LOL ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/28 "2022-01-05T18:28:09Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > 1. My parents are currently 93 and 95, so I guess I need to cut back my alcohol intake. Bad plan. According to the site, not drinking alcohol actually lowers your life expectancy. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/29 "2022-01-05T19:23:52Z")
> [@Folly](#): > > Then it says I could add as much as 1.5 years to my life expectancy by exercising a few times a week. > > Iā€™m not sure that is as motivating as they think it isā€¦ Exercise wonā€™t make you live longer, itā€™ll just seem like it. šŸ™‚ It says I have 25 years left. Seems a bit excessive, but I suppose it might have guessed differently if it had asked about untreated hypertension. I scored 141/104 yesterday, Iā€™m getting pretty good! ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/30 "2022-01-05T19:47:09Z")
1. With the little information asked Iā€™m sure they are skewing very high. I was truthful about my weight. I used to smoke but quit long ago. That should push it a little lower. If it asked about how long my relatives lived it would say I will live forever or die any day now. No middle ground on either side of my family. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/31 "2022-01-05T20:01:06Z")
I guess Iā€™m the only one who doesnā€™t want to know (or even estimate). mmm ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/32 "2022-01-05T20:21:41Z")
Nope. Not the only one. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/33 "2022-01-05T20:31:33Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#): > > I guess Iā€™m the only one who doesnā€™t want to know (or even estimate). > > mmm It asks like three things that might make a difference. Calling it an estimate is generous. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/34 "2022-01-05T20:38:02Z")
It gave me 86 with answers of ā€˜220 lbsā€™ for my weight and ā€˜Goodā€™ for my health. It went up to 88 if I get down to 195 lbs and get my health to ā€˜Very Goodā€™. Getting married would up the estimated ages to 91 and 94. That is a huge difference. ETA: It seems my life expectancy would go up if I increased my drinking. That seems counter intuitive. ---
**Author:** ![billy-jack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ac91a4/32.png) [@billy-jack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/billy-jack)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/35 "2022-01-05T20:59:34Z")
83 for me. It said that I can live longer if I start drinking. I currently average about a six pack a year. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/36 "2022-01-05T22:06:54Z")
> [@billy-jack](#): > > It said that I can live longer if I start drinking. Reminds me of Cliff Clavinā€™s theory about beer. [![](https://s3.amazonaws.com/manmadediy-uploads-production/photos/15692/cliff-clavin-on-beer-reprint-of-a-classic-diatribe-from-chee-demotivational-poster.jpg) ](https://s3.amazonaws.com/manmadediy-uploads-production/photos/15692/cliff-clavin-on-beer-reprint-of-a-classic-diatribe-from-chee-demotivational-poster.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [January 5, 2022, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/37 "2022-01-05T22:20:30Z")
My life expectancy? I am bold enough to expect tomorrow, hoping for the whole afternoon too. ---
**Author:** ![naita](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/naita/32/5862_2.png) [@naita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/naita)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/38 "2022-01-06T10:33:50Z")
I got 92, so Iā€™ve just crossed the half-way mark. Didnā€™t try playing with the factors, but the ā€œdrink more, live longerā€ is controversial, with opponents believing thereā€™s no way to sufficiently control for biases such as people cutting alcohol due to health issues. ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/39 "2022-01-06T14:07:49Z")
It says 87. That is clearly bananas. No male in my paternal line has made it to within ten years of that, and genes are the single biggest factor in your life expectancy. ---
**Author:** ![TRC4941](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/trc4941/32/6792_2.png) [@TRC4941](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TRC4941)\ **Post date:** [January 6, 2022, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257/40 "2022-01-06T15:16:58Z")
95 for me. Thatā€™s fine as long as I have all of my faculties. I want to be able to read, watch TV, walk, and take care of myself. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-your-life-expectancy/957257.md?page=3)