American Diet To Blame For Health Care Spending? Really?

[Dana]

“The American diet is responsible for about three quarters of health care spending. We spend it on chronic diseases linked to diet. The health care crisis is a euphemism for the catastrophe of the American diet.”
— Michael Pollan

 

[ClicheGuevara]

Well, duh......

 

[Minor Axis]

Really? Haven't you seen all the blimps wandering around? Besides that, my understanding is that the majority of heath care expenses come in the last 5 years of a persons life when they are trying to hang on and the Drs are trying to save them.

 

[edgray]

I would say it might be more to do with stress. Americans work longer hours, get less holiday and days off. I imagine it can be pretty stressful. I don't think the American diet is especially bad, the French eat a lot of rich fatty foods and smoke like chimneys, the brits have a pretty unhealthy diet too, and drink way more than most other countries yet live longer and spend less on healthcare.

The main difference between the countries is the work environment so I'd put my money on it being down to stress and not exercising enough due to lack of time.

 

[kelvin070]

I would say it might be more to do with stress. Americans work longer hours, get less holiday and days off. I imagine it can be pretty stressful. I don't think the American diet is especially bad, the French eat a lot of rich fatty foods and smoke like chimneys, the brits have a pretty unhealthy diet too, and drink way more than most other countries yet live longer and spend less on healthcare.

The main difference between the countries is the work environment so I'd put my money on it being down to stress and not exercising enough due to lack of time.

Are you sure they work longer hours? In one of the companies I worked before the MD is american. On fridays he dissappears. You cant find him the following mondays. He returns on tuesdays with hangover.

 

[edgray]

Are you sure they work longer hours? In one of the companies I worked before the MD is american. On fridays he dissappears. You cant find him the following mondays. He returns on tuesdays with hangover.

My half-sister worked as a service writer for a few years (she's american). Basically she did 12 hours a day, 5 days a week ad 6 hours on Saturday. Her friends pretty much do similar hours. There are many things I'm sure you could knock the Americans for, but their work ethic certainly isn't one of them.

 

[kelvin070]

My half-sister worked as a service writer for a few years (she's american). Basically she did 12 hours a day, 5 days a week ad 6 hours on Saturday. Her friends pretty much do similar hours. There are many things I'm sure you could knock the Americans for, but their work ethic certainly isn't one of them.

:24: Republicans End Work Day at 2PM in Retaliation for Health Care Bill
http://www.huliq.com/9502/92193/republicans-end-work-day-2pm-retaliation-health-care-bill

 

[edgray]

:24: Republicans End Work Day at 2PM in Retaliation for Health Care Bill
http://www.huliq.com/9502/92193/republicans-end-work-day-2pm-retaliation-health-care-bill

I think politicians the world over are lazy, nothing to do with what country they're from.

 

[Kyle B]

I think politicians the world over are lazy, nothing to do with what country they're from.

Actually in Signapore, the politicans have to run on treadmills when they vote on bills, or else they get caned.

 

[kelvin070]

Actually in Signapore, the politicans have to run on treadmills when they vote on bills, or else they get caned.

:24::24::24::clap:clap:clap

 

[porterjack]

I think politicians the world over are lazy, nothing to do with what country they're from.

bingo