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> Only in the modern era do we now spend more time inside than outside, which could be an explanation for increasing incidence of diseases. Do we have increasi
by jopsen 9y ago
> Only in the modern era do we now spend more time inside than outside, which could be an explanation for increasing incidence of diseases.
Do we have increasing incidence of diseases? [citation needed]
I see little reason for evolution to favor long lives. Setting offspring early and living long enough to support your offspring sure. But beyond that returns are quickly diminishing.
The idea that it's natural to live a long healthy life is very romantic, but hardly realistic.
- naasking 9y agoI was just going to ask about evidence of increasing disease. The OP's claim smacks of rosy retrospective bias. Even if the numbers did increase, most of the time this is due to improved detection, or shifting age distributions, ie. an older population will necessarily have more health issues.
- jopsen 9y ago> rosy retrospective bias Is exactly the term I was looking for :) I feel like some of the love people have for: natural medicine, organic food, natural coloring, flavors and preservatives are somewhat similar... Granted there are environmental benefits to some of it for sure.
- leg100 9y ago> Even if the numbers did increase, most of the time this is due to improved detection, or shifting age distributions, ie. an older population will necessarily have more health issues. Other than what you say about older people, it is pure conjecture to say that "most of the time" these are the causes.
- naasking 9y agoYeah, not really. If what you said were true, mortality would be increasing dramatically. This clearly isn't the case, therefore any apparent increase in disease rates must be due to improved detection. Or disease rates aren't really increasing at all.
- leg100 9y agoAre you saying there is no increasing incidence of diseases? Of any disease? That would be a difficult argument to make (you might want to find a citation). Note: I did not say all diseases.
- jopsen 9y agoI asked for citations. It's quite possible that diseases suspect of being due to vitamin D deficiency are up, but evidence to that effect needs to be cited. I'm not convinced that we have higher incidence of diseases today, than we did 50 years ago. At least not when you correct for age, and population size, etc. Maybe diabetes is up, but... still evidence is good.