England healthier than US study finds

[DucatiMonster696]

They can't possibly think that it's maybe the American lifestyle that just possibly is causing us to be worse than them???

When kids are sucking down soda, each sh1t processed food, not exercising in just about any manner (except to throw tantrums), and you then continue that on for 60 years or so, with the stress of work thrown on, exactly what do people expect??

Chuck

Mandating health insurance (we have public health care in this nation already) is the way to solve this !! Quick someone batphone Obama !

 

[DucatiMonster696]

Of course, it could simply be that the USA has it wrong on health care. Every other first world country has a nationalized health care system, where medical care is provided free to citizens.

So did not read the article which described how even those with access to great health insurance (we have health care) are in bad shape?

 

[Monster_Munch]

I notice the study was based on England and not the entire UK. If they compared Scotland to the US the results would probably be the other way around.

 

[Texashiker]

England healthier than US study finds

Part of the big problem I see with America, our towns / cities are not designed for people to walk anywhere - unless you live in a major city.

I live in a small town of about 8,000 people. We have 2 grocery stores, and neither one of them are safe to walk to. Not because of crime, but because they are on major roads going through town. There are no crosswalks at the intersections going to the grocery stores. You either driver to the store, or you and your kids run the risk of getting run over.

The largest store, a wal-mart is outside of town by a few miles. The nearest neighborhood is a set of apartments across the street, and low income housing about 1/4 mile from wal-mart, there is nothing else around the store but a lowes and a few more businesses. There are not even sidewalks going to the wal-mart for people to walk to it.

This same example is repeated over and over all across America. Instead of designing towns so its easier for people to walk, you "have" to drive.

 

[tk149]

Public health experts suggested more generous holiday entitlements and more favourable working conditions in the UK might also play a part.

Just guessing, but based on what I've seen, Americans work much longer hours than Europeans and have higher stress levels.

 

[her209]

Just guessing, but based on what I've seen, Americans work much longer hours than Europeans and have higher stress levels.

Even kids?

 

[ElFenix]

Even kids?

our food supply is also poisonous, full of unnecessary chemicals and whatever else monsanto decides to kill us with


*oh noes here comes amused to tell me that trans fats are perfectly safe!*

 

[her209]

our food supply is also poisonous, full of unnecessary chemicals and whatever else monsanto decides to kill us with

*oh noes here comes amused to tell me that trans fats are perfectly safe!*

Unamerican liberal commie pinko fascist socialist!

 

[JS80]

ps You sound bitter and jealous.

lol yea i'm so bitter and jealous. I probably make triple what you make, have better health care than you for cheaper, and I don't have to pay $100k for an Audi A4.

 

[Infohawk]

our food supply is also poisonous, full of unnecessary chemicals and whatever else monsanto decides to kill us with


*oh noes here comes amused to tell me that trans fats are perfectly safe!*

Have you ever been to the UK? Ate food there?

 

[Texashiker]

our food supply is also poisonous, full of unnecessary chemicals and whatever else monsanto decides to kill us with

<sarcasm>

All of those "chemicals" are perfectly safe and have been approved by the food and drug administration.

If the government approved it, then it "must" be safe. There is no way the government is going to approve something that can even slightly harm anyone.

</sarcasm>

 

[fskimospy]

lol yea i'm so bitter and jealous. I probably make triple what you make, have better health care than you for cheaper, and I don't have to pay $100k for an Audi A4.

You probably are. Recently you've complained how poor you are, how you can't afford a house, how you can't accumulate any wealth, etc. It sounds like times are tough for you, so a certain level of jealously is probably to be expected.

 

[Londo_Jowo]

Have you ever been to the UK? Ate food there?

The Brits invented gin so they didn't have to taste the food.

 

[CycloWizard]

our food supply is also poisonous, full of unnecessary chemicals and whatever else monsanto decides to kill us with


*oh noes here comes amused to tell me that trans fats are perfectly safe!*

Yes, I see people keeling over after eating Monsanto products all the time. Killing your customers is a great business model, after all.

 

[tk149]

Even kids?

Good point. Nevermind.

Can we blame HFCS?

 

[zephyrprime]

Big deal. Every place is healthier than the US. This is no news.

 

[QuantumPion]

Whats funny about our "system" is that you can buy private insurance but as soon as you are sick you will be locked into that insurance for the rest of your life. No one will take you. I find it amazing that this is ok to the republicans.

Where do you live, Canada? Australia? Because here in America, the law is exactly the opposite of what you describe.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HIPAA
Title I also limits restrictions that a group health plan can place on benefits for preexisting conditions. Group health plans may refuse to provide benefits relating to preexisting conditions for a period of 12 months after enrollment in the plan or 18 months in the case of late enrollment. However, individuals may reduce this exclusion period if they had group health plan coverage or health insurance prior to enrolling in the plan. Title I allows individuals to reduce the exclusion period by the amount of time that they had "creditable coverage" prior to enrolling in the plan and after any "significant breaks" in coverage. "Creditable coverage" is defined quite broadly and includes nearly all group and individual health plans, Medicare, and Medicaid. A "significant break" in coverage is defined as any 63 day period without any creditable coverage.

In other words, insurance companies cannot deny you coverage for preexisting conditions if you had prior coverage before. And if you didn't have any prior coverage, you can still get a policy, they just won't cover costs for the actual preexisting condition expenses for the first 12 months.

Oh, and by the way, it was republicans that passed HIPAA. Democrats never bothered to pass it in the 40 years they had control of congress. It wasn't until republicans took over in the 90's.

So tell me, why do you think it is ok for the democrats to allow people not be able to switch jobs and get coverage for preexisting conditions, for decades? Also, how does it feel to have your entire world view turned upside down by the sudden realization that liberals lie?

 

[shangshang]

burn down all the McDonalds, Chick Fillets, Burger Kings, Taco Bells, Pizza Hut.. and Americans get healthier overnight! Or how about we just let the conservatives eat them all and watch them have a coronary in 6 months? j/k

 

[ichy]

Of course, it could simply be that the USA has it wrong on health care. Every other first world country has a nationalized health care system, where medical care is provided free to citizens.

Total BS. Plenty of Western European nations don't have nationalized healthcare (Switzerland and the Netherlands immediately come to mind.)

 

[IGBT]

must be all the kidney pie and blood sausage. Nothing like scrambled eggs and blood sausage.

 

[her209]

Total BS. Plenty of Western European nations don't have nationalized healthcare (Switzerland and the Netherlands immediately come to mind.)

According to NPR:

July 31, 2008 Switzerland's health care system could be the perfect political compromise for the U.S. Those who can afford to buy insurance are required to do so by law. For those who can't, the government provides subsidies. Swiss citizens, such as Cecile Crettol-Rappaz, say they wouldn't trade it for any other system.

Sounds exactly like what we will get!

 

[ElFenix]

burn down all the McDonalds, Chick Fillets, Burger Kings, Taco Bells, Pizza Hut.. and Americans get healthier overnight! Or how about we just let the conservatives eat them all and watch them have a coronary in 6 months? j/k

we outlawed KFC and legalized medical MJ and our testicular cancer rates shot up!

 

[ichy]

Sounds exactly like what we will get!

The problem is that people in the US throw a hissy fit about being forced to buy insurance. "OMG you're trampling on my freedom!"

The only problem with this attitude is that we as a society won't let the uninsured die on the street, so they still get treated at everyone else's expense.

Edit: It's worth noting that the while the Swiss system provides excellent care and universal coverage it is also quite expensive compared to most other Western country's systems. Healthcare spending in Switzerland is as a percentage of GDP is the second highest in the world after the US, and this is in a country with much lower obesity rates (and corresponding diabetes, heart disease, etc etc) than we have.

 

[ShawnD1]

The Brits invented gin so they didn't have to taste the food.

Yikes. Gin tastes awful. I don't think I want to know what their food tastes like.

I blame corn syrup and artificial sugar. Everyone knows real sugar + diabetes is better than fake sugar. I once read that fake sugar contains phenylalanine. That shit is lethal.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Not sure why everyone is so focused on diet when the glaring stat that exists is how the United States ranks when it comes to perventative deaths. The US ranks last among the industrialized world when it comes to this measure.

People can't afford continuing care. People can't afford the prescriptions/medical attention they need for chronic conditions. Many many people skip necessary doses to spread out the medication that they have or go weeks/months between taking what they should be taking. In England you pay one price no matter what the medication you need and that is only if you can afford it. And it's a nominal amount.

It's not really a surprise to read this.