Health measures based on physical examinations and/or laboratory reports included the following risk factors or conditions: obesity, hypertension, diabetes, low high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, high cholesterol ratio, and high C-reactive protein* in addition to self-reported health issues (see study for details). These are the same measures that were used in other recent analyses that compared health of older adults in the two countries.
Differences between the two countries are statistically significant for every condition except hypertension.
But why? Why are the rates of chronic disease higher in America? There isn't a conclusive answer at this time, but it's probably because Americans want to be better at everything.
Good to see that we're winning!
Sources:
1. Americans have higher rates of most chronic diseases than same-age counterparts in England [PhysOrg]
2. Sneeze in white hankie [mcfarlandmo]
