When I was travelling in Florida, I was surprised that I felt surprising slim. In a weak moment, I thought maybe I should move there, it would be good for my self esteem! Many Floridians that I had seen were seemingly overweight. I thought that Canadians were much leaner than Americans, however my research shows that we are not far off.
According to statistics, 23.1% of Canadians have a body mass index over 30 compared to 31% for Americans. In other countries such as England it is 24%, Spain 15%, Italy 10% and France 7%. These lower ratings in Spain, Italy and France may correlate with a Mediterranean diet, working less hours and spending more time walking and less time sitting and in cars. The Mediterranean diet consists of many fresh fruits and veggies, beans, olive oil and fish, not to forget the daily glass of red wine.
I did some research on this topic and I found an interesting article posted by
Sound Medicine from the University of Indiana
In the ages-old US vs. Canada debate, the U.S. has a few clear advantages. Our climate, overall, is better. And our professional football league definitely puts Canada's to shame. But when it comes to health, Canadians have the advantage. According to a study recently published by the American Journal of Public Health, Canadians are, on average, healthier than Americans.
To wit: Americans are 42% more likely than Canadians to have diabetes and 32% more likely to have high blood pressure. Also, not surprisingly, Americans are fatter than Canadians. Of those surveyed, 21% of Americans reported being obese, compared to 15% of Canadians.
What makes Canadians healthier? Some experts surmise that Canada's system of universal health coverage makes a large difference. According to the study, Canadians on average endure longer waits for doctor appointments, but more Canadians overall receive care. And, also according to the study, many more Americans than Canadians can't afford the medicine they need to ward off disease.
There is a bit of good news on the American side. According to the study, we tend to smoke less than Canadians. Still, less smoking hasn't enabled us to match the healthiness of our northern neighbors.
To wit: Americans are 42% more likely than Canadians to have diabetes and 32% more likely to have high blood pressure. Also, not surprisingly, Americans are fatter than Canadians. Of those surveyed, 21% of Americans reported being obese, compared to 15% of Canadians.
What makes Canadians healthier? Some experts surmise that Canada's system of universal health coverage makes a large difference. According to the study, Canadians on average endure longer waits for doctor appointments, but more Canadians overall receive care. And, also according to the study, many more Americans than Canadians can't afford the medicine they need to ward off disease.
There is a bit of good news on the American side. According to the study, we tend to smoke less than Canadians. Still, less smoking hasn't enabled us to match the healthiness of our northern neighbors.
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