Americans Sicker than Canadians?

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

An article from CNN.com details the findings of a Harvard study.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/05/30....ap/index.html

The study cites universal health care as a major factor:

Canada's national health insurance program is at least part of the reason for the differences found in the study, Woolhandler said. Universal coverage makes it easier for more Canadians to get disease-preventing health services, she said.

That's possible--but I wonder if there aren't also differences in diet and lifestyle that might account for some of it. One of the main indicators is the rate of diabetes--and type II diabetes is related to obesity. Canadian and US diets are similar, but there's a lot more prepared food down here, and the cheapest food is always the worst for you.

[jolinar of malkshor]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

An article from CNN.com details the findings of a Harvard study.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/05/30....ap/index.html

The study cites universal health care as a major factor:


That's possible--but I wonder if there aren't also differences in diet and lifestyle that might account for some of it. One of the main indicators is the rate of diabetes--and type II diabetes is related to obesity. Canadian and US diets are similar, but there's a lot more prepared food down here, and the cheapest food is always the worst for you.

I agree and that crapy part is I think Canadians are staring to follow suite with the Americans

[Vulcan]

Originally Posted by jolinar of malkshor

I agree and that crapy part is I think Canadians are staring to follow suite with the Americans

With all the American food chains [Safeway included] pushing more 'prepared food' and sugar at young and old Canadians, it's only a matter of time. I'm not saying we don't have our own pushers, but the sugar content seems to be less.

[goaliegirl]

The better question is why is everything more expensive at Safeway?

[GoinAllTheWay]

Why is chicken expensive? There are more freakin chickens in Alberta then there are people.

[Flame On]

Why do I sudenly want a cheese burger with wings and a coke?

[J pold]

I love Safeway’s Lumberjack Sandwich

[Burninator]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

An article from CNN.com details the findings of a Harvard study.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/05/30....ap/index.html

The study cites universal health care as a major factor:


That's possible--but I wonder if there aren't also differences in diet and lifestyle that might account for some of it. One of the main indicators is the rate of diabetes--and type II diabetes is related to obesity. Canadian and US diets are similar, but there's a lot more prepared food down here, and the cheapest food is always the worst for you.

The Southern states have a horrible diet. Biscuits and gravey for breakfast (white bread with white sausage gravy). barf. Lots of food is deep fried and coated with batter. Very fatty diet, and shows, since the majority of people in the south are quite large. So I think most of the States has a similar diet to us, the south is way worse.

[Looger]

different kinds of fat we're talking aboot there...

but i think a major factor, has to be climate. the US in the early 20th spent major money and effort wiping out some sub-tropical diseases in their south but there's a lot left i'm sure.

their bugs don't die, like ours do!

don't get me wrong though, diet / lifestyle has to be a major factor.

[RougeUnderoos]

I know it's a big place, but what are the smoking rules/where can you smoke in the States? Watching those Yank movies, it seems like they smoke whereever they want. Of course watching those Yank movies I've seen a lot of crazy stuff (talking dogs, Doc Ock) so maybe that isn't much to go on.

[Table 5]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

I know it's a big place, but what are the smoking rules/where can you smoke in the States?

For the most part, Ive found that the US is much more stringent about non-smoking than Canada. Part of what I hate about coming back to Calgary is knowing that if I go out on the town, I'll come back smelling like a fricking ashtray. I can't stand that.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by Table 5

For the most part, Ive found that the US is much more stringent about non-smoking than Canada. Part of what I hate about coming back to Calgary is knowing that if I go out on the town, I'll come back smelling like a fricking ashtray. I can't stand that.

Yeah, it gets a bit ridiculous when you're the only major city in North America that still allows smoking in public places.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally Posted by Iowa_Flames_Fan

An article from CNN.com details the findings of a Harvard study.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/05/30....ap/index.html

The study cites universal health care as a major factor:


That's possible--but I wonder if there aren't also differences in diet and lifestyle that might account for some of it. One of the main indicators is the rate of diabetes--and type II diabetes is related to obesity. Canadian and US diets are similar, but there's a lot more prepared food down here, and the cheapest food is always the worst for you.

POLLUTION

[GreenTeaFrapp]

Originally Posted by rubecube

Yeah, it gets a bit ridiculous when you're the only major city in North America that still allows smoking in public places.

It's even scarier when Quebec, where they'd smoke in church, has stricter smoking laws then Calgary.

[Iowa_Flames_Fan]

Originally Posted by Displaced Flames fan

POLLUTION

That could be. But proportionately, I think most Canadians live in large cities too--is Calgary less polluted than, say, St. Paul?

Health coverage is probably a bigger issue in larger urban centers, and among the poor--but I do know that urgent care IS available, much like in Canada, to anyone. A big difference might be found in how chronic conditions (like diabetes--or like mental illness, perhaps) are treated. One of the problems is prescription drugs. Along with much poorer drug coverage, patent laws prevent generic drugs entering the market for much longer here. The result is that newer medications can be 10-15 times as expensive here as in Canada. That's not an exaggeration. That's why people here are constantly trying to figure out ways to get their prescriptions from Canada.

[FlamesAddiction]

This is sort of related.

I was on a Carolina Hurricanes board a few years ago after they played against Montreal. A couple of them got involved in a side conversation about the lower number of over-weight people they see in the crowd at games in Canada than what they are used to seeing in Carolina. After reading that, I notice the same thing. Sometimes there is little difference, but many times, you can really see a lot more obese people in the stands at games in the U.S.

I know it's not scientific, but I think it might be one area to look at when comparing the health of the 2 countries.