England 'healthier than the US' (2024)

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England 'healthier than the US' (1)

By Michelle Roberts

Health reporter, BBC News

People living in England enjoy better health than Americans, despite less investment in healthcare, research published in the US has revealed.

Across all ages, US residents tend to fare worse in terms of diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease markers, data on over 100,000 people show.

The reason remains a mystery, says the US team, and challenges the idea that resources necessarily improve health.

It may be due to the UK's bigger drive on disease prevention, they say.

Transatlantic health gap

Despite the greater use of health care technology in the US, Americans receive less preventive health care than their English counterparts.

They have fewer physician consultations per year.

Acute hospital visits are also shorter in the US, potentially resulting in missed opportunities for follow-up, say the report authors in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

It is also possible that differences in social or environmental conditions or lifestyle play a role.

But despite looking, the researchers did not find any real evidence that differences in obesity, alcohol consumption or physical activity were to blame.

Smoking may be a factor, but Dr Melissa Martinson and colleagues doubt it because even younger Americans who have not yet been exposed to decades of tobacco smoke appear to be in worse health than English counterparts.

And although a larger share of Americans are uninsured or under insured compared to populations in England or other European countries, even groups with good access to health insurance experienced worse health than people in England.

The researchers say: "Why health status differs so dramatically in these two countries, which share much in terms of history and culture, is an unresolved puzzle.

"Given our finding of health differences between the US and England at young ages, a promising focus of future research - one that could help to elucidate the causes of poor health across the life course - is on health differences between countries at the earliest ages."

Public health experts suggested more generous holiday entitlements and more favourable working conditions in the UK might also play a part.

A spokesperson from the Department of Health said: "The NHS offers care free to all at the point of use and based on need.

"Whilst in some areas our outcomes may be favourable compared with those in the US, we are still clear that we have a long way to go before we achieve outcomes comparable with the best performing health systems.

"That is exactly why we are modernising the NHS."

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England 'healthier than the US' (2024)

FAQs

Why is England healthier than America? ›

Transatlantic health gap

Despite the greater use of health care technology in the US, Americans receive less preventive health care than their English counterparts. They have fewer physician consultations per year.

Is food in the UK healthier than US? ›

On average, items on U.S. menus had more calories, sugar, fat, and saturated fat than their U.K. counterparts.

Which country has better food, the UK or the US? ›

But overall, she concluded that the UK beats America in terms of overall quality and taste. Heartier food with fewer ingredients isn't the only benefit to your health when living in the UK according to Olivia.

How healthy are the British? ›

Main points. The majority of the UK population (75.3% of men and 75.7% of women) reported being in good or very good health.

Is obesity worse in US or UK? ›

In 2016, the age-standardized (estimated) obesity prevalence (for the age group 20–84 years), based on the NCD-RisC 2017 data, ranged from 29.3% (UK men) to 19.5% (Swiss women) in the 18 European countries, compared to about 38.5% in the USA.

Which country is healthier, the US or the UK? ›

Results: The English have better health than the Americans when population health is assessed only by prevalence of selected chronic health conditions.

Is food cheaper in UK or USA? ›

When it comes to grocery and food prices, the UK is the winner in terms of overall affordability. The average British household spends less on groceries per month compared to the average American household, and UK supermarkets tend to offer more own-brand products, which are generally cheaper but still of good quality.

What is the healthiest food in the UK? ›

Starchy foods are a good source of energy and the main source of a range of nutrients in our diet. These foods are good sources of protein, vitamins and minerals. Pulses, such as beans, peas and lentils, are good alternatives to meat because they're low in fat and they're a good source of fibre and protein, too.

What is the number one food in England? ›

Whether it's butter pudding, sticky toffee pudding, or Yorkshire, they're the national dish. However, one pudding takes the cake. Yorkshire puddings are the most popular food in England.

Which country food is No 1 in the world? ›

Ranked as the number one cuisine in the world, Italian food is a favorite internationally. With so many wonderful dishes originating from this country, it is almost impossible to pick just one.

Is English cuisine healthy? ›

It turns out that British food isn't that terrible, after all. A global survey has found that when it comes to having the healthiest packaged foods and drinks, the UK tops the charts, with the USA in 2nd place and Australia coming in at 3rd.

Are Brits healthier than Americans? ›

Middle-aged Brits are healthier compared to the same age bracket of US adults across all levels of income, according to a new study. Adults in the US aged 55 to 64 years old had higher rates of diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, and mental health conditions compared to their peers across the pond.

Is the UK health system better than the USA? ›

The Commonwealth Fund conducts an analysis of the healthcare systems of 11 developed countries every few years. According to their latest report published in 2021 analyzing data primarily up to 2019, the US had an overall ranking of 11 out of 11 and the UK ranked 4 out of 11.

What is the biggest health problem in the UK? ›

Coronary Heart Disease is the biggest killer, causing almost 74,000 deaths each year in the UK. That's about 200 people dying every day.

Why is UK healthcare better than US? ›

While both systems have world class health outcomes, the U.K. health care system has far less variation in health outcomes across its population than does the U.S. In terms of financial fairness, the UK is also ranked higher than the U.S. This outcome is a direct result of the UK national tax based system versus the ...

Is mental health better in the UK than the US? ›

Mental illness rates were 15.7 percent in the U.S., 17.6 percent in Australia and 13.8 percent in the U.K. in 2019. Yet, the U.S. had 10 times higher death rates from gun violence than Australia and 40 times higher death rates than the U.K.

Why do Europeans eat healthier than Americans? ›

Portion sizes in Europe are generally smaller, reducing the probability of overeating. European food standards are stricter, with many additives found in American foods banned in Europe. The availability and affordability of fresh, local produce in Europe also support healthier eating habits.

Why is American food less healthy than other countries? ›

According to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the average American diet consists of excess salt, saturated fat, refined grains, calories from solid fats and added sugars. Americans also eat fewer vegetables, fruits, whole grains, dairy products and oils than recommended.

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