These Are the World's Healthiest Nations

[Cpadave]

US came in at 35. With all the money we spend on healthcare I would have expected to be on top 10.




https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-as-world-s-healthiest-nation-while-u-s-slips

 

[Nick12]

The USA is a fast food/ processed food nation that is slowly killing our population. Obesity comes to mind. It's all about personal choices on how we want to live our lives.

 

[MRG]

No surprises there. Look at how overweight population has become. How little the average person exercises. Go to some of the healthiest countries and observe how they eat and walk, or bike.

 

[Mdlerth]

I expect to live until I die

I'm reflexively skeptical of doom-and-gloom reports like these. All too often they are contrived to form public opinion rather than to inform it.

From an ER perspective, it doesn't provide me any actionable information. It wouldn't let me download the full data set, saying some subscription service was required. Without the data I can't be certain what conclusions can be drawn from it.

For example, the article says life expectancy is an important factor in the USA's low ranking. Then it says American life expectancy is being constrained by suicides and drug-related deaths, but it doesn't quantify it. So for those of us who don't do drugs and haven't offed ourselves, I suspect we would need to rely on our portfolio for a longer period.

But how much longer? Is my life expectancy greater by 2 years or 10? As an ER planning tool, it would be more helpful if we could get to the raw numbers.

Similarly, the data could be multi-modal in a host of other ways as well. If access to health care is a criterion, I live in the center of a dense concentration of hospitals, with specialists of every sort just minutes away. I have both employer-provided insurance and solid financial resources to cover the OOP limit for any situation from sneezing to transplants. That's not to say I'm any better or worse than the next guy, but surely it puts me in a different health risk group than other subsets of the population. All the survey ranking does is slap a single number on the whole country, which may not be at all instructive for my individual situation.

Of course, the underlying data might turn out to be so vapid it's useless, which might be why they don't make it free to access. If all it really says is I should exercise more and not treat pork rinds as an important food group, well, I already knew that.

 

[Nick12]

Access to health care is all good but some other countries don't have the accessibility to health care like we do. Some countries that are higher ranked than the USA , exercise more, eat less, as examples. When I grew up in the 1970s and 80s you could not find a place open to eat after 9pm, and the shopping malls were closed on Sundays. Some of my neighbors think health care is something that they need when they have health problems. It's downright embarrassing when Cuba is ranked higher than the USA.

 

[Cpadave]

Access to health care is all good but some other countries don't have the accessibility to health care like we do. Some countries that are higher ranked than the USA , exercise more, eat less, as examples. When I grew up in the 1970s and 80s you could not find a place open to eat after 9pm, and the shopping malls were closed on Sundays. Some of my neighbors think health care is something that they need when they have health problems. It's downright embarrassing when Cuba is ranked higher than the USA.

I agree. A trip on NYC subway and you can see so many overweight or obese people. There are so much junk food in this country. I have a hard time finding healthy inexpensive snacks for my kids. The cost of meat is often times lower than many fruits and vegetable. And so much processed and unhealthy food

 

[Mdlerth]

America's not obese, we're just diverse!

At the same time we have plenty of couch potatoes carrying extra poundage, we also have lots of people who spend every free minute running, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, doing yoga & martial arts, etc. That's why I think a single number is probably not representative.

Some countries that are higher ranked than the USA , exercise more, eat less, as examples. When I grew up in the 1970s and 80s you could not find a place open to eat after 9pm.

The survey puts Spain in the No. 1 slot. When I visited Spain, in the cities everybody walked everywhere but the typical dinner time was 10pm. I was too sleepy to eat by then!

It's downright embarrassing when Cuba is ranked higher than the USA.

This is another reason to want to see the underlying data.

 

[Chuckanut]

And, all of those nations spend less as a percentage of GNP on health care. A lot less. We spend nearly 18% of GNP. The next highest is the Netherlands at 12%.

One complaint about the study.... they mention the "Mediterranean Diet", but countries along the Mediterranean Sea eat somewhat differently. I would love to see a good definition of that diet.

Now excuse me while I put an extra dose of olive oil in my omelette pan.

 

[Rianne]

DBI and DSI are Italian, DSI lived there 35+ years. We've visited at least 12 times over the past 34 years. If my memory serves me correctly, every Italian we met while visiting smoked, not one ore two cigarettes, but one or two/three packs a day. Their diet, extremely healthy. They walk a lot, up and down hills, mountains. I often wonder about smoking. DFI, smoked from age 13 and passed when he was 95. Also, Italian.

He rolled his own cigarettes, so they didn't have all the additives our cigarettes do. DBI rolls his own cigarettes, smoked since he was a teen.

There are no secrets these countries hold, regarding health. I think it's as plain as day.

 

[Nick12]

At the same time we have plenty of couch potatoes carrying extra poundage, we also have lots of people who spend every free minute running, kayaking, hiking, rock climbing, doing yoga & martial arts, etc. That's why I think a single number is probably not representative.


The survey puts Spain in the No. 1 slot. When I visited Spain, in the cities everybody walked everywhere but the typical dinner time was 10pm. I was too sleepy to eat by then!


This is another reason to want to see the underlying data.

America's not obese? Please look around you. It's a national epidemic that our country does not want to address.

 

[Mdlerth]

The herd includes 330 million discrete individuals, all different

America's not obese? Please look around you. It's a national epidemic that our country does not want to address.

I AM looking around, and I see both overweight people as well as millions of insanely fit exercise fanatics sporting less fat in their whole bodies than I have in my thumb.

I assure you it's NOT a uniform distribution.

 

[Col. Klink]

You are what you eat. A heard a cardiologist at a seminar a few years back say that the reason most of the teeth in your mouth are rounded is that humans were intended to eat primarily a plant based diet.

Insofar as smoking, blow smoke through any filter medium and it turns brown. So do your lungs and they lose at least some of the ability to conduct oxygen to your bloodstream. So, to compensate your heart must work harder. I could go on, but leave it to say that those who live to 95 and smoked regularly are the exception and not the rule. My SIL just died at age 53 of a heart attack. She ate garbage, was fat, and smoked. RIP.

BTW, the article doesn't address directly the subject of stress as an factor in lifespan. Americans tend to work longer hours for more years and many bring their jobs with them home or even on vacation. Thankfully, I realized that a j*b is only a means to an end. Hence, why I FIRED.

 

[Koogie]

I must say we Canadians deserved our high placement.

Why, just last night I put fruit in my drink.

Fruit !

 

[Cut-Throat]

US came in at 35. With all the money we spend on healthcare I would have expected to be on top 10.




https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...-as-world-s-healthiest-nation-while-u-s-slips

Yes, the U.S. is a very Rich Country, when you compare GDP of the entire country... But this is concentrated wealth and the U.S. has a large population that lives under poverty.


And while Health is about making choices, poor people don't have a lot of choices. Especially Children.... By the time you reach age 15 your health has been impacted by whatever your parents have provided and where you grew up.


Other nations that are not as near wealthy as the U.S. do a better job of taking care of the overall Health of their citizens.

 

[ckelly78z]

So many people can't put down the energy drinks, and soda pop. These are the same ones who have takeout every day for lunch, and some quick processed dinner.

Retirement will allow me the time to build up our garden, and greenhouse, while also growing more meat chickens, and gathering our free range eggs. We drink mostly filtered ice water throughout the day, but sweets (chocolate) is my big weakness.

 

[Nick12]

So many people can't put down the energy drinks, and soda pop. These are the same ones who have takeout every day for lunch, and some quick processed dinner.

Retirement will allow me the time to build up our garden, and greenhouse, while also growing more meat chickens, and gathering our free range eggs. We drink mostly filtered ice water throughout the day, but sweets (chocolate) is my big weakness.

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg former mayor of NYC, proposed an idea of banning large sugary soft drinks in NYC to combat the NYC obesity problem. Appeals court said it was unconstitutional.

 

[Nemo2]

Billionaire Mike Bloomberg former mayor of NYC, proposed an idea of banning large sugary soft drinks in NYC to combat the NYC obesity problem. Appeals court said it was unconstitutional.

If there was a ban on large drinks, they'd just buy two smaller ones.

Personal responsibility is the only solution...not 'nannystateism'.

 

[Bestwifeever]

Well done, Spain!

 

[Chuckanut]

Fitness depends on what area you live in.

In my area we have a lot of active outdoor people. So, you can see many fit folk wherever you go. Alas, they are still in a minority. My doctor told me last year that he used to see 1 or 2 morbidly obese people a week when he started his practice nearly 30 years ago. Now he sees 1 or 2 a day.

I think one of the issues is that while the overweight segment of the population may not have increased in numbers as much as we think it has, those in that group are on the average significantly heavier than similar people 20 years ago. This is a thought on my part, not a documented fact. I have no evidence other than my own empirical observations to back it up.

Note: I am very sympathetic to the plight of the overweight. They live in a world where there is too much questionable food that makes us gain weight combined with terrible nutritional policies/advice of our government and certain 'public service' organizations for over 30 years. They are supposed to summon up the willpower to resist their native body chemistry for the rest of their lives - a ridiculous idea. I was well on my way there, trying and failing many times to lose 20-30 pounds and more importantly stop the yearly weight gain that had me adding 1/2 to 1 inch to my waistline every year. Thankfully, I listened to Dr. Lustig's Sugar, the Bitter Truth video which got me going in the right direction.

 

[Octogirl]

Fitness and health are about life choices and sometimes lucky genes.
I sit at my computer all day for work- so I know that contributes to my weight gain.
Many people have inactive work days, which adds to health problems.
They say "sitting is the new smoking"
One more reason why this is my last year.......

 

[Rianne]

Personal responsibility is the only solution...not 'nannystateism'.

I partially agree. I think subliminal advertising has something to do with the desire to eat/drink unhealthy things. And genes/DNA has something to do with it.

Personal responsibility includes how you were raised, who influences you, what hero you aspire to be like and the means to get there. No one can be forced to change their habits. If that were so, I'd write a book called "How to Change Your Husband." Then a book called "How to Change the World" Then a book called "Listen to Me, I Change You." Do these titles sound somewhat familiar, in a different way?

 

[Nemo2]

No one can be forced to change their habits.

I read the thread here that focuses on alcoholism, and the common meme is that the individual must want to do it before they can successfully modify their behavior, so self interest must be a major factor.

Seems to me that good intentioned attempts at forced modification are generally doomed to failure since they will undoubtedly be met with resistance.

What's the answer...."I dunno".....perhaps those who refuse to 'see the light' have to fall by the wayside.

I was stair walking this a.m. at our community centre, (I do repeats), a woman, (had to be no older than mid thirties), going up two flights was literally puffing before she hit the third riser. If it didn't appear to occur to her that this old fart, perhaps 2 1/2 times her age, could do numerous repeats, what more can be said to her?

 

[Nick12]

Fitness depends on what area you live in.

In my area we have a lot of active outdoor people. So, you can see many fit folk wherever you go. Alas, they are still in a minority. My doctor told me last year that he used to see 1 or 2 morbidly obese people a week when he started his practice nearly 30 years ago. Now he sees 1 or 2 a day.

I think one of the issues is that while the overweight segment of the population may not have increased in numbers as much as we think it has, those in that group are on the average significantly heavier than similar people 20 years ago. This is a thought on my part, not a documented fact. I have no evidence other than my own empirical observations to back it up.

Note: I am very sympathetic to the plight of the overweight. They live in a world where there is too much questionable food that makes us gain weight combined with terrible nutritional policies/advice of our government and certain 'public service' organizations for over 30 years. They are supposed to summon up the willpower to resist their native body chemistry for the rest of their lives - a ridiculous idea. I was well on my way there, trying and failing many times to lose 20-30 pounds and more importantly stop the yearly weight gain that had me adding 1/2 to 1 inch to my waistline every year. Thankfully, I listened to Dr. Lustig's Sugar, the Bitter Truth video which got me going in the right direction.

Food channels everywhere you turn on cable, glamorizing all you can eat contests, fast food open 24/7 or open until, 3am, Burger King selling fries and whoppers at 7am, schools having vending machines ( not in my day), extra large/ super size specials, unlimited refills and fries, processed junk all around. Heard from immigrants from other lands that being slim is looked down upon considered to be ill, being heavy then life is good. Twisted logic.
Finished with the rant. Back to the gym to work out with my peeps.

 

[MRG]

Some of it is knowledge. When DW and I wanted to lose weight my PCP's nurse, also a RD, talked to me for a while about diet. Much more time would be required to gain a real understanding.

So like any idiot I consulted DR. Google who had many answers that were total nonsense. When we found some decent resources it became much easier.

You should have seen the look on my face when I realized my normal serving of pasta, before sauce, was most of my entire day's calorie allocation.

Most folks don't really understand how little changes add up. One example I love is an extra 12 ounce coke daily is a 10 pound weight gain over a year.

 

[Winemaker]

The US counts stillborns and also premature births in their infant mortality rates, which also skews the overall mortality rate. We are a fat people getting fatter, though.

Gone are the days when you had to get up off your a$$ to change the TV channel, drink a 6 ounce Coke, after mowing your grass with your push mower, once you bent down and opened your garage door. Now you hit the remote, and pay your lawn service online, once you touch the garage door opener, if it isn't hooked up to a motion detector. You can check your groceries that were delivered by the online grocery option and eat the pizza/supersized drink you bought online because the 10th one is free. Then you use your "smartphone" to b!tch at the maid service because they missed dusting the bookcase.