YOU'RE OVERWEIGHT! does it always say that ? =[

[Kasz216]

N.Genckel said:

dbot said:

Demotruk said:

Most European countries have better health care systems than the US, they report well. People in the US just have a very different lifestyle than Europeans, one that tends towards being overweight.

The odd thing is, our definition of "overweight" relates to normalcy, not to the health effects. Recent studies have shown it's better to be overweight than normal weight, and it's worse to be underweight than obese, in terms of life expectancy. This is likely due to the fact that while there are health negatives from being overweight, having extra weight increases your chances of surviving many illnesses.

 

(I say this as someone who is underweight)

I vehemently disagree with your first point regarding the quality of health care systems, but will not derail the thread to discuss it.  My point the obesity data is somewhat misleading because very few countries (such as the US and UK) report data based on actual measurements.  Third World countries under report their data because they are using estimates.

 

You can't disagree with facts. But it does look like Obama is going to try and change that, so good on him.

There really aren't any facts when it comes to healthcare statistics.  Just political spin.

If you looke at Demotruk he stated that both the US healthcare sysem is worse, and the US has a worse lifestyle.

Yet the US stats aren't very far behind Europe in life expectancy... the difference of which can actually be explained by the fact that the US has a lot more murders.

Outside that, the US has higher survival rates for most major causes of death then europeon countries including the big 3 killers that account for most premature deaths.

You are more likely to live longer in europe.  Yet, if you have a major illness you are more likely to survive in the US.

The second is a much better indicator of healthcare if you ask me.  Actual treatment of illnesses vs simple life expectancy which can be effected by crime rates and culutral problems like overeating.

Also different reporting methods... since pretty much every europeon countries have "qualfiers" on what counts as a baby.  If it dies after birth but is too small it is not considered a child.  While the US counts any child birthed no matter how small our light it was.