Hot Topics

American Well-Being: Seatbelt Use is up, So Is Obesity
Annual Harris Poll statistics on smoking, weight, and seatbelt use were recently released with disappointing findings regarding health concerns.

In the lone bit of good news, according to a 2009 phone survey of 1,010 American adults over the age of 18, a record 91% reported wearing a seatbelt while riding in the front of a car. The number of adults who protect themselves with seatbelts has steadily risen since 1983 when a mere 19% used the lifesaving devices. Such a significant increase in seatbelt use can be attributed to awareness programs and ad campaigns that are particularly effective at reaching new divers. Furthermore, state-wide initiatives such as “Click It or Ticket” have stepped up penalties for driving without a seatbelt.

Unfortunately, healthy living campaigns, although popular, have had little to no effect on reducing smoking and obesity in the United States.

Currently, 20% of the adult population smokes cigarettes. Despite greater advocacy against smoking and enlightenment to its health risks, the total population of cigarette smokers seems to have only decreased by 9% since 1980. Pollsters say this slow decline is a result of the addictive nature of nicotine and the habit’s growing popularity among younger people.

Unlike the stagnation of smoking statistics, trends in weight are moving rapidly—but in the wrong direction. The Harris Poll found that 66% of adults over age 25 are classified as overweight with regard to their Body Mass Index (BMI). Using BMI, the poll also categorized 26% of the population as obese.

Obesity has been increasing consistently as Metropolitan Life data also indicates. Using a different testing method, MetLife placed the population of obese adults at 15% in 1984, compared with 32% in 2009. MetLife’s calculations also suggest that 80% of American adults are “overweight.”

Some healthcare professionals believe that America’s weight gain has a lot to do with advertising. Because we are exposed to so many ads for unhealthy and sugary food and drinks, we are more inclined to eat unhealthily. Even with new ads that encourage better eating, the availability of inexpensive fast food is still too tempting.

The poll suggests that America’s nicotine consumption and growing waistline are causing decreased life expectancy rates when compared to other nations.
—Olympia Kyriakide

Stats and Statins

• New data from “the Journal of the American College of Cardiology” suggests that relatively healthy women with severe depression are at increased risk of cardiac events, including sudden cardiac death and fatal coronary heart disease.
• Cholesterol-lowering statins could cut the risk of heart attacks in 6.5 million Americans who have low cholesterol but high levels of a blood marker for inflammation, according to the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and its Heart and Vascular Institute.

60%
Percentage of physicians who would not recommend medicine as a career to young people
(The Physician's Foundation, 2008)

40%
Percentage of Americans who think the nation’s healthcare system must be completely rebuilt
(Pew Research, 2009)

41%
Total decline in U.S. household net worth over the past year
(Federal Reserve data, 2009)

$9.3 Trillion
Projected total deficit over the next decade if President Obama’s budget proposals are carried out
(The New York Times, 2009)

$128 Billion
Total amount of announced pharma company merger deals in 2009
(Wall Street Journal, 2009)

Pharma Cuts Ad Budget, But So Do Most...
The poor economy has affected the pharmaceutical industry, leading to an 18.4% decrease in advertising spending. The statistics, released in March 2009 by Nielsen Media Research, reported that ad spending dropped from roughly $5.3 billion to $4.3 billion in the last year. Specifically, pharmaceutical companies spent only $663 million on cable TV ads for branded campaigns where they had previously spent $1.2 billion.

According to Annie Touliatos, Nielsen VP of sales development, “Pharma was certainly one of the top categories that lost steam. But the decrease was expected in these categories because we know that a lot of the larger advertisers have been pulling back on [spending].” In other words, this budget cut will not necessarily translate into diminishing sales.

Reductions in marketing expenditures across various U.S. industries have enabled Pharma to maintain a respectful second place in total ad spending. Only the auto industry spent more on advertising in last year. And Johnson & Johnson, which spent over $1.2 billion, was one of the top 10 advertisers in 2008.
—Olympia Kyriakides

More Math & Science
America has historically led the world in medical innovation and scientific discovery, but that lead is slipping. According to recent Council on Competitiveness data, in the past 25 years:

• The U.S. share of global R&D investment declined from 46% to 37%
• The U.S. share of scientific publications fell from 38% to 30%
• The U.S. share of scientific researchers fell from 41% to 29%
• The number of new doctorates in science and engineering in the U.S. decreased 30%