The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[DewDiligence]

China’s health problems are becoming ever more Westernized:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443295404577546873955706232.html

Health experts say China has now caught up to speed with—and even exceeded—the lifestyle-related health problems of more developed countries, and doesn't have sufficient measures in place to prevent diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer, which are costly to treat.

“The country is struggling to deal with a population that is urbanizing, aging and is afflicted with chronic diseases,” said Wang Linhong, the executive deputy director of the chronic-disease arm of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

…Out of every 100 deaths in China, 85 are now caused by chronic diseases, according to China's Ministry of Health. By comparison, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the rate is 70 per 100 in the U.S., while the World Health Organization says they represent 63% of deaths world-wide.