Over two billion people, or nearly 30% of the world’s population, are overweight or obese. It would be convenient to see this grim statistic as the inevitable by-product of the improved quality of life and economic success being enjoyed by more people in more countries. The fact is, however, obesity is taking a huge toll on society, in economic as well as in health terms.

With premiums declining, many question whether the industry can survive in its current form. EY's retail life insurance executive survey examines the challenges and opportunities.

LifeHealthPro Senior Editor Warren S. Hersch recently interviewed Doug French, a New York-based managing principal of the Insurance and Actuarial Advisory Services of Ernst & Young LLP. The interview explored initiatives identified in EY's “2015 U.S. Life Insurance Outlook” report the professional services firm believes should be top priorities for life insurers in 2015. The following are excerpts.

In many ways, the life insurance and annuities industry is on more solid footing entering 2015 than it has been for quite some time. Economic growth is improving and the unemployment rate is steadily falling, which should create a more conducive environment for carriers to market their products and services.

But fundamental challenges — some new, some ongoing — are keeping industry executives on their toes.

Application activity for individually underwritten life insurance closed 2014 off -0.6% YTD from levels observed at year-end 2013, according to the MIB Life Index. December’s activity increased +2.6% year-over-year.

​Pseudodementia is a term that describes specific types of reversible dementias. It is primarily associated with depression, but can be due to other causes as well. This article distinguishes pseudodementia from true dementia, discusses pseudodementia’s causes, characteristic signs and symptoms, diagnosis and treatments, and covers its most important mortality concerns.

Mitral regurgitation, or mitral insufficiency, is the second most common form of valvular heart disease, after aortic stenosis. It’s a heart valve disorder that occurs when the mitral valve does not close properly during ventricular systole (contraction).