Junkfood Science posted a wonderful article yesterday about the newest CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) report indicating that American’s are actually living longer and healthier lives than ever before! Life expectancy is increasing year after year and the deaths from cancer, diabetes, heart disease and more are all lower than in previous years!
I’m not sure about you, but this study is surprising to me considering what the media tells me everyday about my health and the health of my fellow Americans. Almost everyday there seems to be a different news story telling us that we are going to die early if we don’t get our health under control. And yet this study indicates the opposite of what we read everyday in the news.
Why is this? Why are we being made to fear for our health and our lives when in fact, we are living longer, healthier lives than ever before? And how can Americans be “fatter” than ever before (as the media keeps reminding us) and yet continue to live longer lives?
I’m not exactly sure what the answer is (although I have a few ideas). But I will say that what I learn from this predicament is that I should not be so quick to believe every health news report I see on the nightly news. I prefer to look at the studies regarding my health for myself (preferably ones that are not sponsored by diet companies…kind of a conflict of interest there). And to me, the fact that Americans are living longer lives is pretty great news! So spend the weekend celebrating!
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The fact is we are a shamelessly longlasting junk made by God. We God’s steel. So, we won’t die anytime soon. Researches can prove whatever they set out to prove. Collecting data in a certain way and interpreting it in a particular manner allows a number of inferences, and one chooses the one that favors the hypothesis the study began with. Thus, conflicting results.
Scientific theories are just a little more than verifiable dogmas.
That is really interesting and not only does media say we are dying b/c we’re fat but schools do too a friend of mine is taking nutrition courses and of course they always throw in their Americans are over wieght and dying for it this is a popular concept. Surprising that their is an article about it this is a reason to celebrate!
Longer lives is cause for celebration for sure, but there’s also the consideration of quality of life. While we are getting better at keeping each other from dying of heart disease, cancer, liver disease, and diabetes, it’s also worthwhile to try to prevent these chronic conditions whenever possible, so that your longer life is also a better one.
But nevertheless, score one for medical research + preventative medicine + public health initiatives + people who are taking better care of themselves!
“Scientific theories are just a little more than verifiable dogmas.”
Spoken like a true Christian fundamentalist.
Let’s celebrate with cheeseburgers!
Thanks for this article. It is great that I was able to find this site. Very ironic how media/society focuses so much on weight as the cause of health issue when the truth is, poor health is a result of a combination of issue not just one.
“Spoken like a true christian fundamentalist”
That’s a judgment if I’ve ever seen one and since we are in the game of judging, I bet “judging” by their name and face that they’re not even christian. LOL,