The trend line has always been positive: as time goes forward, Americans have continued to live longer. But it seems that trend line may be plateauing…or even reversing. The main culprit? Could be obesity. Since the 1960’s, because of a combination of medications and lifestyle changes, heart disease has been on the decline, but that’s beginning to change. With the steady increase of obesity, and accompanying rise of blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, the factors that contribute to heart disease are now worsening, leading to a potential public health, as well as financial, crisis. To better understand this reversing trend, read and listen to this NPR story Here.