The Japanese, smoking and health
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Q Is it true that Japan is the healthiest nation in the world, and that more Japanese smoke cigarettes than Americans?
A Although “healthiest” is a relative term, Japan consistently scores among the top in numerous health measurements, from its peoples’ longevity to the low rate of obesity. Some rankings place Japan in first as the healthiest nation on the planet; another ranks Japan third, after Andorra and Macau.
On the other hand, Japanese are among the most zealous smokers, recording more than 30 percent of its population as smoking daily.
The Foreign Policy Web site lists the following countries as the five healthiest in the world: 1. Japan, 2. France, 3. Iceland, 4. Sweden, and 5. Cuba.
For a comparison of health-related statistics for randomly selected countries, see the accompanying chart.
The information was gathered primarily through the World Health Organization, the 2008 CIA World Factbook and a United Nations World Population Prospects report.
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Posted by madpoet (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 3:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Wow, what a skewed question! There are so many factors that affect health! Most studies I've seen say Japanese people are healthy due to low obesity and a diet high in fish and vegetables. Genetics play a part in health also. It could be the Japanese have a genetic predisposition to being healthy. Every person's body reacts differently too. That is why some people become addicted to a drug almost immediately while others do not. That's also why some people tolerate tobacco smoke while it causes allergic reactions in others.
Posted by USNretired (anonymous) on August 21, 2008 at 5:24 p.m. (Suggest removal)
No! It has to be all the Asahi they drink so much of. There are beer and coffee vending machines everywhere in the ginza, and they love junk food, too. I have very good friends in the Sasebo area and we visited each others chos often when my family lived there.
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