6 ms·

Taiwan does indeed have world class health care despite having an exceedingly low tax rate by western standards. But lets not overlook the elephant in the room

Taiwan does indeed have world class health care despite having an exceedingly low tax rate by western standards. But lets not overlook the elephant in the room. Taiwan is an island full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal. Millions of people still shop primarily at traditional markets and millions of others follow Buddhist diets that would be mocked by western "diet hackers". Only in the past generation has it really begun adopting, and suffering the effects of, western eating habits. If Taiwanese people ate like Americans and drove everywhere, their health care system would have become bankrupt years ago.

35bge57dtjku 9y ago
That's quite a claim.
wisty 9y ago
Taiwan has an obesity rate of >20%. Not quite 35% or whatever the USA is, but still kinda high.
- Feniks 9y ago
  Actually obesity in the US is the norm now. Preventive healthcare should be pushed more. But remember when Michelle Obama said kids should eat more vegetables?
  - dghughes 9y ago
    If they know what a vegetable is. Jamie Oliver did a show in the US and kids didn't even know what some vegetables were. Jamie showed them potatoes, tomatoes, carrots they may as well been alien the kids didn't have a clue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg
kevinjcliao 9y ago
Hi there! Taiwanese here. We invented boba (full of sugar and unhealthy), and our cuisine, while delicious, can be incredibly unhealthy. We are actually struggling to confront one of Asia's largest obesity epidemics. I think the notion that we're an island "full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal" is not only a problematic and reductionist characterization, it ignores the problems that we face (an epidemic of obesity and an aging population.) [1]http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2016/04/26/2003644828 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2016/04/...
- keithpeter 9y ago
  Thanks for contributing, quote from OA "Finally, it began to institute global budgets — caps on the total amount paid for all care — in the hope of squeezing providers into becoming more efficient." OK, what happens when a part of the system hits the cap in a given year? Rising obesity -> cancer/blood pressure/type 2 diabetes in a decade or two based on UK experience. In UK we spend a large % of GDP on the NHS but that % can't keep rising forever, so I'm interested in alternatives.
- whatyoucantsay 9y ago
  Hi, there! Your comment is charactaristically un-Taiwanese, starting with the word "boba". That isn't the word people use for it in Taiwan (either in meaning of the characters or the sound). Most people don't understand boba (波霸) and I personally never encountered the word until visiting North America. In Taiwan, it's 珍珠奶茶. > "people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal" is not only a problematic and reductionist characterization" Taiwanese people rarely talk like this either. In fact, the charactarisation you've quoted is one I repeated from national media. Furthermore, left-wing language police and phrases such as "problematic and reductionist" have yet to enter mainstream Taiwanese discourse. Quite the contrary, it's too far in the opposite direction. Two pieces of anecdata: When commenting on how mannequins in Ximen are all white, except for the ones showcasing athletic wear, which are black, I've been politely told to piss off. Similarly, when I complained of a pub's unapologetic and blatant Nazi decor, I was told that I "think too much". Operating on the principle of charity, I will assume you are Taiwanese and either live there now or did in your formative years and not a North American with little experience with the culture or local media of Taiwan who simply feels entitled to speak as an expert and scold strangers on the internet on the basis of your race. That would be problematic indeed. Here's a quick way to understand where this generalisation came from: Simply walk into several local restaurants and look at the sections on a menus. Or try avoiding rice or noodles for even a single day when eating with your fellow Taiwanese over the age of 30. Yes, diets are changing and to the detriment of everyone's health. No, it's not impossible to see high level general differences between them and those in the west or differences in typical physiques or clothes sizes sold in typical malls.
  - 9y ago
chillingeffect 9y ago
Don't know why you're getting downvoted, but to support your point, they consume waaaay less caffeine and alcohol than the u.s. most are allergic to alcohol. Missing sleep isn't a competitive sport. Their bodies are much more homogenous and obesity I estimate less than 3%. Also in corporate cafes, foods are still very traditional. Notably their eyes are relatively poor. Almost 90% have corrected vision. Often in large meeting 100% will be wearing glasses.

35bge57dtjku 9y ago

That's quite a claim.

wisty 9y ago

Taiwan has an obesity rate of >20%. Not quite 35% or whatever the USA is, but still kinda high.

Feniks 9y ago
Actually obesity in the US is the norm now. Preventive healthcare should be pushed more. But remember when Michelle Obama said kids should eat more vegetables?
- dghughes 9y ago
  If they know what a vegetable is. Jamie Oliver did a show in the US and kids didn't even know what some vegetables were. Jamie showed them potatoes, tomatoes, carrots they may as well been alien the kids didn't have a clue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGYs4KS_djg

kevinjcliao 9y ago

Hi there! Taiwanese here. We invented boba (full of sugar and unhealthy), and our cuisine, while delicious, can be incredibly unhealthy. We are actually struggling to confront one of Asia's largest obesity epidemics. I think the notion that we're an island "full of thin people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal" is not only a problematic and reductionist characterization, it ignores the problems that we face (an epidemic of obesity and an aging population.) [1]http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2016/04/26/2003644828 http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/editorials/archives/2016/04/...

keithpeter 9y ago
Thanks for contributing, quote from OA "Finally, it began to institute global budgets — caps on the total amount paid for all care — in the hope of squeezing providers into becoming more efficient." OK, what happens when a part of the system hits the cap in a given year? Rising obesity -> cancer/blood pressure/type 2 diabetes in a decade or two based on UK experience. In UK we spend a large % of GDP on the NHS but that % can't keep rising forever, so I'm interested in alternatives.
whatyoucantsay 9y ago
Hi, there! Your comment is charactaristically un-Taiwanese, starting with the word "boba". That isn't the word people use for it in Taiwan (either in meaning of the characters or the sound). Most people don't understand boba (波霸) and I personally never encountered the word until visiting North America. In Taiwan, it's 珍珠奶茶. > "people who eat rice or noodles at almost every meal" is not only a problematic and reductionist characterization" Taiwanese people rarely talk like this either. In fact, the charactarisation you've quoted is one I repeated from national media. Furthermore, left-wing language police and phrases such as "problematic and reductionist" have yet to enter mainstream Taiwanese discourse. Quite the contrary, it's too far in the opposite direction. Two pieces of anecdata: When commenting on how mannequins in Ximen are all white, except for the ones showcasing athletic wear, which are black, I've been politely told to piss off. Similarly, when I complained of a pub's unapologetic and blatant Nazi decor, I was told that I "think too much". Operating on the principle of charity, I will assume you are Taiwanese and either live there now or did in your formative years and not a North American with little experience with the culture or local media of Taiwan who simply feels entitled to speak as an expert and scold strangers on the internet on the basis of your race. That would be problematic indeed. Here's a quick way to understand where this generalisation came from: Simply walk into several local restaurants and look at the sections on a menus. Or try avoiding rice or noodles for even a single day when eating with your fellow Taiwanese over the age of 30. Yes, diets are changing and to the detriment of everyone's health. No, it's not impossible to see high level general differences between them and those in the west or differences in typical physiques or clothes sizes sold in typical malls.
- 9y ago

chillingeffect 9y ago

Don't know why you're getting downvoted, but to support your point, they consume waaaay less caffeine and alcohol than the u.s. most are allergic to alcohol. Missing sleep isn't a competitive sport. Their bodies are much more homogenous and obesity I estimate less than 3%. Also in corporate cafes, foods are still very traditional. Notably their eyes are relatively poor. Almost 90% have corrected vision. Often in large meeting 100% will be wearing glasses.