3 ms·
> But remember: the average life expectancy of an Afghan is 39 years. These supposedly fit and healthy societies had entire generations that never saw the age
by zach 16y ago
> But remember: the average life expectancy of an Afghan is 39 years. These supposedly fit and healthy societies had entire generations that never saw the age of 50.
That's life expectancy at birth, because Afghanistan (understandably) currently has the highest rate of under-5 mortality. Life expectancy upon reaching age 5 is probably still over 50 years, although these are the rosier 1990-95 figures:
http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/afghanistan http://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/af...
- notahacker 16y agoThat link is useful in refuting some of the article's other claims, such as suggestion that heart attacks are "almost unknown" amongst the Pashtuns. The actual data suggests that Afghanistan is in the top 10 nations for numbers of coronary heart disease deaths per 100,000 population. The USA isn't even in the top 100. Sure, it isn't the leading killer out there, and it's lack of medical attention more than lifestyle factors driving that death rate up, but it's utterly false to insinuate that less fatty food renders heart problems irrelevant in that part of the world...
- zach 16y agoGreat point. There are other lifestyle factors besides diet playing a part as well. Particularly, that Afghanistan is probably one of the most stressful countries in the world in which to live over the last 35 years.