UK vs. U.S.: Who Has Better Health And Well Being?

With the Royal Wedding weeks away, all eyes are trained on the UK.

Now there's even more reason to keep our gaze fixed on Britain, with the release of the first-ever Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index (WBI), which gives a bird's-eye view of health and happiness in the sovereign state.

Though the goal was not to set up a comparison between the UK and the U.S. -- the WBI was introduced here in 2008 -- the U.S. data can be used as an important benchmark.

So how did it all come together?

Over the course of three months, researchers called some 3,000 adults, at random, in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Callers asked respondents about what the WBI has determined to be its five main factors -- in addition to physical health -- that contribute to the well being. Those includes things like general working conditions and a sense that your community is moving forward.

"This study was supported all the way up at the top," said Nikki Duggan, Director of Analytics at Healthways. "Prime Minister David Cameron believes that wellbeing should inform policy decisions in the UK, because it affects healthcare costs so dramatically."

Tom Cox, COO of Healthways said that because the data is new, it is a little early for policies to have been put in place. But he said that eventually, the data will help government and business leaders pinpoint what areas of well being are suffering in their respective communities, thus affecting how healthcare funds should be allocated.

So how does the UK stack up to the U.S., health-wise? Take a look.

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Positivity | Winner: U.S.

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Though Britons scored better in terms of healthy behaviors and overall physical health, they still rated their lives "less positively" than Americans. When asked to evaluate their lives on a scale from 1 to 10 -- 1 being the worst, 10 being the best -- 54 percent of Americans fell within the "thriving" category, i.e., they scored themselves closer to 10, whereas only 48 percent of Britons did. That gap increased with age -- only 36 percent of the 65+ population in the UK said they were thriving, versus 43 percent in the U.S. Duggan said that in the UK, this element of the study has gotten a lot of hype, and not necessarily of the most positive kind: people have made light of the survey as a mere happiness index. Though Duggan said happiness and positivity do indeed influence overall well being, they are only part of a much more complex picture.

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Though Britons scored better in terms of healthy behaviors and overall physical health, they still rated their lives "less positively" than Americans.

When asked to evaluate their lives on a scale from 1 to 10 -- 1 being the worst, 10 being the best -- 54 percent of Americans fell within the "thriving" category, i.e., they scored themselves closer to 10, whereas only 48 percent of Britons did. That gap increased with age -- only 36 percent of the 65+ population in the UK said they were thriving, versus 43 percent in the U.S.

Duggan said that in the UK, this element of the study has gotten a lot of hype, and not necessarily of the most positive kind: people have made light of the survey as a mere happiness index. Though Duggan said happiness and positivity do indeed influence overall well being, they are only part of a much more complex picture.

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Comments

[usamade]

11:51 AM on 04/20/2011

I have a lot to say about this. First I'm married to an Englishman. His whole family (which is my family too) are still in England. They have top notch healthcare that doesn't cost them a dime (except in their taxes). My niece is going to school for free. They only work 40 hours a week if that and they always take "holiday" sometimes a few a year because they get so much time off work.

Here, my husband works at least 60 hours a week (and yes he's educated - PhD. in Materials Engineering). He sometimes doesn't get a lunch break. He travels all the time. His eating habits are terrible because the job doesn't allow him to stop. The food in the US is terrible.

He was just recently (yesterday as a matter of fact) diagnosed as having diabetes. We went to get his testing supplies last night and our insurance wouldn't cover it. We pay $500/month for a $5,000 deductible.

When a country is run by the almighty dollar, the people suffer as they can't keep up.

[onionboy]

05:17 PM on 04/18/2011

I used to spend my summers in Leeds, seeing The Who at the park every weekend.

[jdevans]

11:58 AM on 04/18/2011

For those of us who don't have job satisfaction because we're unemployed, that means the UK is the overall winner.

[HamburgerTime]

01:32 AM on 04/18/2011

My $185 Advair inhaler costs approximately $5 in the UK. I'd rather live there with a chronic illness like asthma. You can't afford to live with one in the US.

[Fi]

04:46 PM on 04/18/2011

All prescription meds are now free in Scotland, Wales and Northern I reland.

[HamburgerTime]

05:04 AM on 04/19/2011

I really need to move over there.

[Theresa Hunt]

12:52 AM on 04/18/2011

Better to get sick in the UK than in the USA its cheaper.
See http://www.enzogenolglobal.com/ for a health alternative.

[Robin Brenizer]

05:04 PM on 04/17/2011

One very important difference in the U.S. is that we are so dependent on the automobile for transportation. In Europe they walk a lot more. Makes a huge difference.

[European1919]

05:07 PM on 04/17/2011

It does. And it is fun, especially when you don't get stopped by prowl cars on every other street corner and some retarded cop asks you whether everything is ok - just because you are walking and not driving.

[Paul Houston]

07:36 PM on 04/17/2011

Yeah and today was the London Marathon, all the pubs were full after the event. You would think after running over 26 miles you would go home. Not that lot! Into the pub for a few pints!

[littlebrowngirl]

03:53 PM on 04/17/2011

I can often tell if someone is from canada. These folks look super healthy. I often see canadians with bright eyes, great complextions, great teeth. I am sure their healthcare system is a factor but it has to be the food or the water too.

[Robin Brenizer]

04:58 PM on 04/17/2011

They probably don't tan as much either.

[playsindirt]

12:53 PM on 04/17/2011

It's interesting that they all smoke and drink and yet have less chronic health conditions than we do. Probably because they eat better, which can make up for a lot of bad habits. Or maybe our chronic health conditions have to do with all our food being doused with chemicals.

[deluk]

06:03 PM on 04/17/2011

Only 26% of us smoke, hardly all.

[JSDKoeln]

12:27 PM on 04/20/2011

"they all"? rather a big generalization, no? The health care in the UK is decent... I'm an American living in Germany... and I DO have health conditions and am grateful to be here. I couldn't afford my life if I lived in the states.

[David Burt]

10:35 AM on 04/17/2011

We in America are fixing to go on a starvation diet when the food rationing arrives.

[KaAp]

12:44 PM on 04/17/2011

Well the one thing I can say about Americans especially the residents of the collective hallucination of Teabagistan: they sure could use it.

[European1919]

02:36 PM on 04/17/2011

That'll certainly cure your national pandemic of obesity.

[David Burt]

04:54 PM on 04/17/2011

We are a nation of gluttonous pigs, both physically and fiscally (whether we earn it or take it as a handout).

[dopamineboy]

10:34 AM on 04/17/2011

Fascinating how folks in UK and EU are way more conscious about GM foods, organics, artificial coloring etc. than US. It's quite impressive. I remember when I first came over and was shocked by the massive portions of food served in regular restaurants, and first visit to the mid-west, stunned by the size of average folks.

[adamben]

02:24 PM on 04/17/2011

yeah it is crazy. however, with increasing food prices i've noticed that portions have been pared down in most restaurants.

[freddsky]

10:19 AM on 04/17/2011

Our vegetables actually look better. They ought to. They're shot up with more chemicals than Courtney Love. In the UK vegetables actually have flavor, here in the US you might as well eat the picture off the menu. "Smoking" and "Job Satisfaction" amount to two cultures divided by the same language. In the UK the first thing a new hire does is confirm perks, benes and tea breaks. If duties and ethics are mentioned they smile politely while ascertaining the nearest pub. If I were to return to the UK to become employed, I would probably take up smoking again. For something to do.

[Robin Brenizer]

05:02 PM on 04/17/2011

The food in Italy is completely different than in the U.S. It is grown locally and is wonderful. Must be the volcanic soil. The first time I bit into a grape I asked the waiter if they had infused it with something. It literally tasted like perfume. But in a good way. Not like I actually ate perfume. But it was completely different and startling. I ate and ate and ate and lost 5 lbs. while I was there. Lots of greens, fruits with every meal. Americans just don't emphasize produce that way. We need to though.

[freddsky]

10:14 AM on 04/18/2011

I once met an American who "did" Italy in16 hours, burning out the engine of his rental on his way to the plane. Thank you for showing the other side of the American soul.

[fourthestatepost]

10:13 AM on 04/17/2011

How bout we compare the U.S. to Switzerland or Denmark and see how that whole American Exceptionalism idea holds up.

[brownfrown]

10:36 AM on 04/17/2011

How about you go there and tell me how it is? :)

[JoeBoy254]

11:32 AM on 04/17/2011

I have and its great............do your homework.

[mikey09]

11:46 AM on 04/17/2011

Sure, lets compare a country the size of Kentucky to the whole USA....or maybe just one region of the USA.....lets compare a country with uniform language speakers to USA, where we can't even educate tons of the population because the don't speak our language.
 
The USA is unlike any other country any other country, size, population, diversity....its not easy to make any comparisons

[Jennifer Mitchell]

12:42 PM on 04/17/2011

I agree that comparisons are tricky, but where did you get the impression that the UK has "uniform language?" There is a lot of cultural diversity in the UK. There are a lot of immigrants as well.

[jackbutler5555]

09:58 AM on 04/17/2011

Many health conditions are genetic.  Since the U.S. is more diverse, it would seem likely that such diversity would cause differences.

[WSAY]

11:02 AM on 04/17/2011

That's a stretch.

[Mary Blickhahn]

12:41 PM on 04/17/2011

I tired to leave it alone...you do understand this was a concern raised by those who were of the mind set of Eugenics? This issue was the heart of WWII. It is also the concern Margret Sanger had.
I am surprised you posted this weird comment, you are usually a great commentator. I have enjoyed many of your post. You must need a break! Well just don't tell Mr LaHood if you took one, he is a real slave driver! LOL!

[jackbutler5555]

01:41 PM on 04/17/2011

What makes you say so?

[Mary Blickhahn]

12:36 PM on 04/17/2011

I think that is an excellent point. We have far more genetic diversity then many other countries. Or we used to, the globe is shrinking and it may becoming more diverse. But it is scary to wonder if all the diversity is somehow bringing the problems more to the forefront. I like your point a lot!

[Epimenides]

09:41 AM on 04/17/2011

It is always fun to contrive meaningless statistics. Bottom line:

Life expectancy from birth as of 2009:

US 78.1 years, 29th best in the world
UK 79 years, 22nd best in the world

Neither nation is even close to the healthiest, and over the past 50 years both have declined in rankings with other nations. In 1960, the UK was 9th best and the US was 16th best.

All sorts of real statistics are available at:

http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/global-health-comparison-index-united-kingdom

[PoliticalEnnui]

10:30 AM on 04/17/2011

Asking which one is healthier is like asking which of two obese siblings has the slimmest figure. One item not explored in this piece is alcohol consumption. The U.K. makes the U.S. look like a Muslim nation when you look at binge drinking. In the U.S. it tops out in the early twenties and declines steadily. In the U.K., that goes on for years. Coupled with higher rates of tobacco consumption means that the slight edge that British citizens have in life expectancy is nothing short of miraculous.

[Epimenides]

11:00 AM on 04/17/2011

I agree with you point, however the alcohol situation is a little more complex than you believe> From the same site I cited above:

Alcohol consumption, UK is worse:

United States 8.6 litters of ethyl alcohol per capita. Rank 33 worst
UK 11.8 liters, rank 8

But alcohol deaths, US is worse:

US 2.1 deaths per 100,000, rank 44
UK 1.4 deaths, rank 64

I did not take the time to look closely at the tobacco numbers, but offhand I would guess that UK's smoking caused illnesses are lagging behind their increasing (and/or our decreasing) comparative rates of smoking.

I just noticed that they have a "healthy life expectancy" chart, too, It should be interesting. Again, this data is at

www.worldlifeexpectancy.com

[ramal]

09:20 AM on 04/17/2011

Isn't the more important question: Which country would you rather be a resident of if you were seriously sick? Unless you are fabulously rich the obvious answer has to be Britain.

[fourthestatepost]

10:10 AM on 04/17/2011

jolly good gov'na

[KaAp]

10:16 AM on 04/17/2011

Precisely!!!!!!!