In today's Health Matters, Americans no longer outlive Europeans. Researchers from the University of Southern California, the Rand Corporation and Harvard compared the average US lifespan with the average age of death in certain western European countries.

They say US citizens no longer have a longer lifespan than those in Denmark, France, Germany, Greece or Italy.

Smoking and obesity are listed as major causes for the decline. The team noted reducing smoking and obesity rates could improve life expectancy in the future.

Study authors say their findings are in line with a previous study done by the national research council.

They appear in the journal 'social science and medicine.'