The Status Syndrome: How Social Standing Affects Our Health and Longevity

by Michael Marmot

Paperback, 2005

Status

Available

Call number

613

Collection

Publication

Owl Books (2005), Edition: 36094th, 336 pages

Description

Why do Oscar winners live for an average of four years longer than other Hollywood actors? Who experiences the most stress - the decision-makers or those who carry out their orders? Why do the Japanese have better health than other rich populations, and Keralans in India have better health than other poor populations - and what do they have in common? In this eye-opening book, internationally renowned epidemiologist Michael Marmot sets out to answer these and many other fascinating questions in order to understand the relationship between where we stand in the social hierarchy and our health and longevity. It is based on more than thirty years of front-line research between health and social circumstances. Marmot's work has taken him round the world showing the similar patterns that could be affecting the length of your life - and how you can change it.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member sumariotter
Michael Marmot makes the case that health is on a gradient and the lower one's social standing the worse one's health--not so much because of the lack of money itself as because of the lack of control over one's life and the inability to fully participate in the activities of life that bring joy
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and are health promoting. This book is the end result of years of research (The Whitehall 1 and 11 studies) and it shows. I found it really interesting and it has definitely caused me to look at the whole issue of poverty and health in a different way. And, while it deals with some depressing stats, this is ultimately a hopeful book, because it shows that by making policy changes and starting programs that lessen inequality we can improve the health of entire societies.
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Language

Original language

English

Physical description

336 p.; 8.5 inches

ISBN

0805078541 / 9780805078541
Page: 0.4476 seconds