Why is Italy the healthiest country in the world?
So, what makes Italians so healthy? Despite an abundance of pasta and pizza, the Italian diet is rich in fruit, vegetables, lean meat, legumes, fresh fish, and olive oil. These foods are a big part of the Mediterranean diet, considered to be one of the best for good cardiovascular and brain health.
Italy is home to some of the best cuisine in the world. Food is deeply embedded into their culture and the classic Italian diet encompasses plenty of vegetables, olive oil, pasta, lean meats and fresh fish. This resulted in Italians having lower blood pressure and cholesterol than other developed nations.
The index grades nations based on variables – such as life expectancy – while subtracting points over risks such as tobacco use and obesity. It also considers environmental factors, including access to clean water and sanitation. The Mediterranean diet is partly responsible for Italy's high ranking on the list.
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This metric examines many factors, including the following:
- Health risks (tobacco use, high blood pressure, obesity)
- Availability of clean water.
- Average life expectancy.
- Malnutrition.
- Causes of death.
Eating plenty of fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, nuts, and cooking with olive oil could explain the high life expectancy rate in Italy. The number of centenarians, or people that are over the age of 100, has tripled in Italy over the last 15 years. Out of the total number of centenarians, 83 percent are women.
Rank | Country | Average life expectancy (years) |
---|---|---|
1 | Japan | 84.7 |
2 | Korea | 83.3 |
3 | Norway | 83.3 |
4 | Switzerland | 83.2 |
But here's the rub: Italians are much healthier than Americans in terms of everything from overall health longevity, infant mortality, obesity, cancer, diabetes, suicide, drug overdoses, homicides, and disability rates. On many of those measures, they beat out the UK as well.
About 1 in 10 people is obese in Italy, significantly less than the OECD average of 1 in 6. More than 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are overweight. OECD projections indicate that overweight rates will increase by a further 5% within ten years. In Italy, 1 in 3 children is overweight, one of the highests rate in the OECD.
Six of the top 10 healthiest countries are in Europe in 2019, according to the Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index. Spain knocked Italy off top spot in 2019 jumping from 6th to take number one in this year's gauge.
- Ireland (82.8%)
- Cyprus (78.7%)
- Norway (77.1%)
- Netherlands (75.9%)
- Sweden (75.1%)
- Greece (74.0%)
- Belgium (73.7%)
- Malta (72.9%)
Which country is the fittest?
People in the Netherlands are the most physically active, spending more than 12 hours a week exercising or playing sport. More than half of people (58%) across the 29 countries surveyed want to play more sport. Men spend 90 more minutes (on average) doing physical exercise than women each week.
- The Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean Diet has long been touted as one of the world's healthiest diets. ...
- Japan. Japan has one the world's longest life expectancies and it 05/be due to its diet. ...
- South Korea. ...
- France.
![Why is Italy the healthiest country? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/tlqsc_I-ozc/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLCOu1zcKHzAV2Hvr1vz-PwuuuhXcQ)
South Korea has the best health care systems in the world, that's according to the 2021 edition of the CEOWORLD magazine Health Care Index, which ranks 89 countries according to factors that contribute to overall health.
- Monaco. As the second-smallest country in the world, Monaco has the longest life expectancy on Earth at 89.4 years, according to the World Factbook. ...
- Japan. ...
- Singapore. ...
- San Marino. ...
- Iceland.
# | Country | Life Expectancy (both sexes) |
---|---|---|
1 | Hong Kong | 85.29 |
2 | Japan | 85.03 |
3 | Macao | 84.68 |
4 | Switzerland | 84.25 |
When it comes to unhealthy eating, Saudi Arabia was the WORST COUNTRY in the index.
Belarus. Belarus is declared unhealthy primarily due to the lifestyle choices of its citizens. The most common factor causing the death of its residents in 2017 was high blood pressure that caused 46,340 deaths, with smoking in second place with 21,497 deaths, and obesity at a close third with 19,713 casualties.
The average level of medical care is quite high compared to international standards (Italian healthcare system ranked 2nd best in terms of performance in the World according to the World Health Organization's report), and Italian doctors are usually highly qualified.
Pizza is a favorite food for many around the world. The addicting combination of delicious crust, sweet tomato sauce and salty mozzarella cheese is sure to please even the pickiest of eaters. However, it's commonly labeled unhealthy, as it can be high in calories, sodium and carbs.
A typical Italian diet consists of three meals in a day. The most common foods in the Italian diet include pasta, cheese, vegetables, olive oil, meats, and wine. Italians give a lot of importance to fresh ingredients. They use seasonal ingredients to prepare meals.
Why are Italian children obese?
Children currently lead a much more sedentary lifestyle than their peers of the past times, preferring to spend hours watching television and using computers, activities that facilitate the consumption of high calories foods and lead to weight gain and to obesity [3].
Education in Italy is highly esteemed with a wide range of excellent academic institutions spread across the country where international students are warmly welcomed. Italy has played an important role in academia, fostering the reform of European higher education through the Bologna Process.
Iceland takes out the #1 spot. The title of the world's best diet goes to Iceland, according to the show. “They have seemingly avoided many of the diseases that have plagued other countries,” says Doherty. “They have low rates of Alzheimer's disease, stroke, heart disease and diabetes.”
- Spain.
- Israel.
- India.
- Iceland.
- Vietnam.
- Sweden.
- Chad.
- France.
Italy: #29 in the 2020 World Index of Healthcare Innovation.
The U.S. has highest rate of disease burden among comparable countries, and the gap is growing - Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker.
- Norway. ...
- Iceland. ...
- Denmark. ...
- Finland. ...
- Estonia. ...
- Latvia. ...
- Lithuania. ...
- Stokie Says: “They seem to use every bit of the animal, these Europeans, and not only in the countryside.
A study of over 700,000 people in 111 countries revealed the average daily steps people take, leading researchers to declare Indonesia laziest of them all.
Hong Kong takes home the prize for step counts, with the average resident clocking 6,880 steps a day. China followed, with 6,189 steps. On the flip side, the countries with the fewest average daily steps were Malaysia, with 3,963 steps; Saudi Arabia, with 3,807 steps; and Indonesia, with 3,513 steps.
- Super-Sweet Cereals. Breakfast cereals are commonly loaded with sugar. ...
- Sugary Coffee Drinks. Many people are accustomed to starting their day with high-calorie coffee drinks. ...
- Canned Soup. ...
- Margarine Bars. ...
- High-Calorie Soda. ...
- Processed Meats. ...
- Ice Cream. ...
- Frozen French Fries.
What is the #1 healthiest food in the world?
So, having scoured the full list of applicants, we have crowned kale as the number 1 healthiest food out there. Kale has the widest range of benefits, with the fewest drawbacks when stacked up against its competitors.
But here's the rub: Italians are much healthier than Americans in terms of everything from overall health longevity, infant mortality, obesity, cancer, diabetes, suicide, drug overdoses, homicides, and disability rates. On many of those measures, they beat out the UK as well.
“For example, Italy's health care system was ranked second out of 191 countries by the World Health Organization's listing of top countries for quality healthcare. In contrast, the United States was ranked 37th, the lowest of any industrialized nation.”
About 1 in 10 people is obese in Italy, significantly less than the OECD average of 1 in 6. More than 1 in 2 men and 1 in 3 women are overweight. OECD projections indicate that overweight rates will increase by a further 5% within ten years. In Italy, 1 in 3 children is overweight, one of the highests rate in the OECD.
Italy: #29 in the 2020 World Index of Healthcare Innovation.