Physical Activity: Are Europeans drastically healthier than Americans?
In Europe, the 2022 Eurobarometer estimated that approximately 38% of Europeans play sports or exercise at least once a week, while 17% exercise less than once a week. On the other hand, in America, only 23% of people meet the nationally recommended amount of physical activity (around 75-150 minutes/week). Another study comparing physical activity levels between Sweden and the United States, found that the men approximately engaged in physical activity the same amount but American women participated in much lower physical activities than Swedish women. This indicated that European adults are significantly more active than the US population.
Another added factor is the physical activity promoted by the lifestyles of the respective countries. It is commonly known that Europeans walk more because they take public transportation more commonly than Americans. This added lifestyle further contributes to the physical activity levels that may not be shown in the research.
Because of the benefits of physical activity, do you think Europeans are healthier than Americans? How important do you think physical activity is in this comparison versus other factors?
Resources:
“Benefits of Physical Activity.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1 Aug. 2023, www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/ basics/pa-health/ index.htm.
Gospodinova, Sonya. “New Eurobarometer on Sport and Physical Activity Shows That 55% of Europeans Exercise*.” European Commission - European Commission, ec.europa.eu/ commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_22_5573. Accessed 6 Mar. 2024.
Producer, Anthony Dominic - Content. “Only 23 Percent of Americans Meet National Exercise Guidelines.” American Spa, 5 July 2018, www.americanspa.com/fitness-studies/only- 23-percent-americans-meet-national-exercise-guidelines#:~:text=Only%2023%20Percent%20of%20Americ ans%20Meet%20National%20Exercise%20Guidelines,-By%20Anthony%20Dominic&text=Of% 20those%20surveyed%2C%2028.8%20percent,by%20jacoblund%20%2F%20Getty%20Images.
I definitely do think that Europeans are likely overall healthier because they engage in physical activity. Being active on a daily basis improves cardiovascular health, brain health, metabolism and muscle/bone strength while become especially important in keeping our minds and bodies able as we age. I think the lower rates of physical activity are likely a main reason that the United States has abnormally high rates compared to European countries of obesity and preventable health conditions such as diabetes or heart disease. I also think an important aspect of physical activity that gets overlooked is its contribution to mental health. Mental health conditions can take a significant toll on our health, so exercises role in reducing symptoms of stress, depression and anxiety and improving overall moods likely makes Europeans healthier than Americans.
ReplyDeleteI think your connection to physical activity and mental health is great. I completely agree that being mentally healthy affects our physical health and taking part in physical activity helps that too. Thanks for sharing!
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ReplyDeleteI definitely think that physical activity has a lot to do with health and wellbeing but I do not think it is the main factor of health. I think dietary differences are so much more part of the difference between Europeans and Americans. I think that Europeans are healthier because their lifestyles consist of walking more, eating less, and eating healthier. I think physical activity is extremely important for wellbeing and mental health, but I think the more important one is mental health and meditating and being able to control your mental health.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree that diet is a huge factor to consider in this comparison. Europe offers better access to cleaner, healthier food while in the US many times these foods are offered at higher prices making it not as accessible. You bring up that physical activity is important for mental health. Do you think Europeans mental health is better than the average American?
DeleteI think that it definitely can be argued that Europeans have better mental health than the average American. I feel I have observed this in the everyday lives of the people in Barcelona. It seems they can find happiness in many of the little things and they are not constantly glued to their phones. I see so many genuine and happy conversations at coffee shops. Obviously, it is impossible to actually say for certain, but based on my observations I deem this to be the case.
DeleteThat's really cool insight! I have also noticed many more people enjoying the scenery compared to glued to their phones. This may be because many people in Europe don't obsess over the newest smart phones like us. These cultural differences are really interesting to observe thought because ultimately they may make us happier and in turn healthier. Thanks for sharing!
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ReplyDeleteBased on the higher levels of physical activity reported in Europe compared to the United States, I believe it is reasonable to suggest that Europeans may be healthier in terms of overall physical fitness. However, health is influenced by numerous factors beyond physical activity alone, including diet, healthcare access, socioeconomic status, and cultural norms. While physical activity is undoubtedly important for health, its impact must be considered alongside these other factors in comparing the health of Europeans and Americans.
I completely agree. Something like comparing health can be very hard to do since we are not able to necessarily measure what makes someone healthy or not. Taking a holistic approach is definitely important. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI 100% think that Europeans are healthier than Americans. You can see the facts on this post, but it is also a stereotype. Americans are known for being on the unhealthier side of the spectrum. The vast amounts of fast food options in America play a key role. Having a sedentary lifestyle of no physical activity and bad eating habits makes it hard on people to thrive.
ReplyDeleteThat's an interesting point of view. I wasn't thinking about this originally in terms of stereotypes. It's something cool to think about now. If the stereotype is that Americans are in general unhealthier, is this actually true or just something we are made to believe? From the given stats, it may be true but maybe also the stereotype makes us over exaggerate how much healthier Europeans really are compared to Americans. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI do think that European people are in general more healthy than American people are. As said in your analysis, Europeans walk so much more than the Americans do because most Europeans live in cities where they must travel by foot to work/school. A lot of Americans will look for any excuse to drive so that they can save some energy and be lazy. I also think food and drink differences are a major indication why Europeans are healthier than Americans. American food places use bigger portions, have larger selections, and have a large selection of fast food places to eat. Since being in Europe, the only fast food I can find is Burger King, Mcdonalds or KFC compared to America who has at least 20 more different fast food chains.
ReplyDeleteI agree all of these factors are essential to compare the health of each. America is the poster child for fast food so a lot of those fast food chains in Europe also are just for American tourists as well so interesting to note. Thanks for sharing!
DeleteI think this question of who is healthier totally depends on the culture you are surrounded by. Just because you are American does not automatically mean that you are unhealthy, which is a common assumption made. The same applies to Europeans as well. I think the culture in which you are surrounded by growing up and just in general in your life, controls your habits, like exercise.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree that these are just stereotypes so not every American or European may fit into the given description. However, I think the question that is interesting to think about is not specific people but the overall average population. That can make it more complex and difficult to measure but nonetheless important to identify.
DeleteI do believe that Europeans are more physically active than Americans, but I believe that due a number of reasons other than sports. First off, Europeans tend to walk to their destinations more often, as Americans tend to drive everywhere. Also, the food is a lot more healthy and well-balanced in Europe, whereas in America lots of the food has added perservatives and chemicals. Also, Europeans factor in physical activity into their daily routines, whereas in America, it is more or less pushed to the side.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree. There are a lot of cultural differences which naturally just make Europeans more active. Thanks for sharing!
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