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When it comes to health, what matters most to people around the world?

On Point

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A global view of health

The news

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‘Zombie cells.’ Discrimination, problems with family life, and other forms of social stress can prematurely age the immune system, according to one recent study. People who report being highly stressed exhibit lower levels of disease-fighting cells and higher levels of “zombie cells,” which are cells that are no longer capable of dividing. Immune aging can make vaccines less effective and contribute to health problems like cancer and heart disease. Taking deep belly breaths is one way to counteract stress. [CNN]

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You’ve got a friend. Maintaining strong friendships can help people stay healthy, but many are lonely. In the US, 12% of Americans reported having no close friends in 2021, up from 3% in 1990. Feeling lonely and being isolated from loved ones can hurt in more ways than one. Such conditions have been linked to increased risk for anxiety and depression, among other issues. It can be tough for time-crunched adults to make new friends, so one place to start could be reconnecting with old ones, suggests one psychologist. [NYT]

In most countries, a higher share of respondents younger than 24 reported fair or poor social health than did those over age 65.

Our insights

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Beyond physical health. “Health” is often thought of in physical terms. In fact, about 75% of health studies focus on physical health while excluding other critical aspects of health. But individuals around the world define health much more broadly, reveal McKinsey senior partner Martin Dewhurst and colleagues. A new survey finds that about 85% of respondents in 19 countries rank mental and physical health as either very or extremely important, while 70% and 62%, respectively, say the same about social and spiritual health.

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Lean on me. Across countries, genders, and age groups, many residents report that their family and friends—even more than public- and private-healthcare systems and communities—offer the highest level of support for their health. The lowest percentage of respondents, 7%, describe the support of family and friends as “not applicable.” Explore attitudes toward health around the world, and learn what individuals and organizations could gain from developing a more comprehensive view of health.

See global perceptions of health

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by "McKinsey On Point" <publishing@email.mckinsey.com> - 01:34 - 29 Jul 2022

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When it comes to health, what matters most to people around the world?

A global view of health

The news

In most countries, a higher share of respondents younger than 24 reported fair or poor social health than did those over age 65.

Our insights

Archives

in

info@learn.odoo.com

The office of the future: A whole new (floor) plan

As inflation jumps, surveys show consumers are changing their behavior

When it comes to health, what matters most to people around the world?

A global view of health﻿

The news

In most countries, a higher share of respondents younger than 24 reported fair or poor social health than did those over age 65.﻿

Our insights

A global view of health

In most countries, a higher share of respondents younger than 24 reported fair or poor social health than did those over age 65.