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Professor: Health of Americans is 'dreadful'
TIFFANY STEVENS
Issue date: 3/25/09 Section: News
Despite being one of the wealthiest and most advanced countries in the world, America is one of the unhealthiest, a Harvard professor told a packed concert hall in the Ramsey Center Monday.
Ichiro Kawachi, chair of Harvard's Department of Society, Human Development and Health, spoke on health disparities between America and other nations and what can be done to rectify growing gaps between the U.S. and other, healthier countries.
"The U.S. health is dreadful," Kawachi said.
One measure of national health is average life expectancy, and the U.S. lags behind several countries in the statistic, he said.
Japan, for example, is ranked higher than the U.S. with an average life expectancy of about 82.5 years, according to statistics collected by the United Nations.
By comparison, an American's life expectancy is about 78.5 years.
He said a set of self-reported statistics show Americans have twice the rate of diabetes as English citizens, and nearly 10 percent more people are afflicted with hypertension in America than in England.
Kawachi said the statistics may be inaccurate because they were self-reported, and inaccuracies would most likely increase the gap between the countries.
"Between the two countries, which is less likely to report these conditions? By all accounts it's Americans, as there are lesser amounts of Americans covered by health insurance, as compared to England, where everyone is covered by the National Health Organization," Kawachi said.
He said America also has widespread dietary problems, but studies proving English and American families consume similar amounts of junk food indicate that diet, alone, is not the culprit of American obesity. British citizens are 8 percent less likely to be obese and almost 25 percent more likely to bike or walk to their destinations, Kawachi said.
Statistics also indicate that Americans prefer trips in personal vehicles as opposed to biking or taking public transit, he said.
"[Statistics] aren't just representative of personal preferences. They reflect investments," he said.
He said Americans should invest less money in highways and cars and more in advocating public and active transportation. Kawachi also advocated moderating and limiting junk food advertisements directed toward children.
Overall, he said Americans should strive toward providing universal health care and changing popular attitudes about healthy lifestyles to begin improving the country's health scores.
Ichiro Kawachi, chair of Harvard's Department of Society, Human Development and Health, spoke on health disparities between America and other nations and what can be done to rectify growing gaps between the U.S. and other, healthier countries.
"The U.S. health is dreadful," Kawachi said.
One measure of national health is average life expectancy, and the U.S. lags behind several countries in the statistic, he said.
Japan, for example, is ranked higher than the U.S. with an average life expectancy of about 82.5 years, according to statistics collected by the United Nations.
By comparison, an American's life expectancy is about 78.5 years.
He said a set of self-reported statistics show Americans have twice the rate of diabetes as English citizens, and nearly 10 percent more people are afflicted with hypertension in America than in England.
Kawachi said the statistics may be inaccurate because they were self-reported, and inaccuracies would most likely increase the gap between the countries.
"Between the two countries, which is less likely to report these conditions? By all accounts it's Americans, as there are lesser amounts of Americans covered by health insurance, as compared to England, where everyone is covered by the National Health Organization," Kawachi said.
He said America also has widespread dietary problems, but studies proving English and American families consume similar amounts of junk food indicate that diet, alone, is not the culprit of American obesity. British citizens are 8 percent less likely to be obese and almost 25 percent more likely to bike or walk to their destinations, Kawachi said.
Statistics also indicate that Americans prefer trips in personal vehicles as opposed to biking or taking public transit, he said.
"[Statistics] aren't just representative of personal preferences. They reflect investments," he said.
He said Americans should invest less money in highways and cars and more in advocating public and active transportation. Kawachi also advocated moderating and limiting junk food advertisements directed toward children.
Overall, he said Americans should strive toward providing universal health care and changing popular attitudes about healthy lifestyles to begin improving the country's health scores.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Winfield J. Abbe
posted 3/25/09 @ 4:52 PM EST
I did not hear the actual lecture by professor Kawachi.
This article does not mention the United States Food and Drug Administration or U.S.F.D.A. As the name implies, this very large and very powerful government agency regulates all foods and all drugs in the United States. (Continued…)
jacksmith
posted 3/25/09 @ 7:00 PM EST
Finally, the time has arrived to fix Americas Healthcare crisis, and Americas healthcare nightmare. Hundreds of thousands of you are killed needlessly every year by your healthcare delivery system in a rush to profit. (Continued…)
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