or are we just seeing the extreme?
Westside.
or are we just seeing the extreme?
Westside.
Due to better diets than ourselves they tend to have a healthier lifestyle than us...we seem to be following the trends in the US and other western countries....are waistlines are getting bigger.
I have lived a life of regrets.
I have several Eastern-European friends and I must say that not one of them is overweight.
During conversations with them, they have said that (as aml has pointed out) their diets are much better and they exercise reguarly by playing sports, something I think is lacking on this side of the continent.
I believe this is true as well. I'd seen a documentary about Vitamin B-17, and read-up on some of their claims afterwards, and came across this information:
Learn the truth about the cure and prevention of cancers and more
Vitamin B-17 is said to be a natural cancer preventative, and it's found in many types of foods, usually in grasses and seeds. The trouble is, that as Western diets have more and more processed foods in them, natural sources of Vitamin B-17 have nearly completely disappeared from the Western diet. The documentary I saw explained how several cultures across the world that still live in their 'traditional' lifestyles and diets have a near ZERO occurance of cancer among them, and it's not uncommon for some people to live to over 100 years old. Take a look at the link and do some of your own research gents, you'll find some interesting stuff out there!
I assume you mean Eastern as in Japan, Korea, Thailand etc.
Life expectancy stats:
United Nations Statistics Division - Demographic and Social Statistics
Male Female
Western Europe/Nth America
Iceland 81 84
Sweden 80 84
Canada 79 84
France 79 85
Italy 79 85
Germany 78 83
Ireland 78 83
Orient
China & HK 80 86
Japan 80 87
Korea (Sth) 77 83
Thailand 67 73
Cambodia 61 65
Eastern/Central Europe
Czech Rep 74 80
Poland 72 80
Bulgaria 71 78
Romania 70 77
Lithuania 67 78
Russia 62 74
Overall, the developed West comes out on top, I think, but developed Oriental countries like China and Korea hold their own. Less developed Orients like Cambodia or Laos do less well. Eastern Europe is generally lagging both.
I'm guessing that when infant mortality is discounted all countries except the most f-ed up will generally be a lot closer together, though. Lots of 2yr olds dying really brings down the average.
I have the same perception - that there are a lot of really old Japanese and Chinese people. Rice diet and Bhuddist meditation and all that.
(Afghanistan 45 Male 45 Women
They could do with a rice diet and Bhuddist meditation. At least it's about the only place the men don't get a raw deal life-expectancy-wise.)
Cable87 (16-07-10)