To contact Health Watch USA please  use the following E-Mail Address

Content in this website may be linked to, as long as the linking webpage and passage has a known and clearly stated author.

OECD data indicates that the United States by far has the most overweight population in the world (OECD Health at a Glance).  However, we also have below average smoking.   According to JAMA (March 10, 2004) the number one factor in mortality in the US is smoking.     

It might be, countries that have thinner citizens who smoke more would be expected to have a higher fatality rate not a lower one.     

However, the JAMA data is OLD and came from a time when smoking was more prevalent and obesity less prevalent in the US.  Below is a statement from their methodology regarding what data was included in the study.

"To identify the causes and number of deaths, we used mortality data reported in 2000 to the CDC" 

& References:   

• 1.  Health at a Glance 2007:  OECD Indicators  View Abstract

• 2.  OECD Life Expectancy at Birth - Feb 27, 2007  View Abstract     

• 3.  Mokdad AH, Marks JS, Stroup DF and Gerberding JL Actual Causes of Death in the United States   JAMA  2004, 291 pages 1238-1245.  View Abstract/strong>