Chile is considered the healthiest country in South America
Chile is the most healthy country of South America and the third in the entire American continent, According to a study published yesterday the company Bloomberg, which gives global figures on different areas.
The index, call Bloomberg Healthiest Country Index (In Spanish, “Bloomberg's healthier country index”), rated 169 Nations according to factors that contribute to health in general. This includes variables such as life expectancy, While it imposes sanctions to risks such as tobacco use and obesity. It also takes into account the environmental factors, including access to drinking water and sanitation.
The results also show that Chile is ranked 33 in the world and the third in the entire American continent - like Costa Rica--, overcome by Canada (in place 16) and Cuba (30). Uruguay (47) and Panama (50) they are other Latin American countries that appear in the “Top 50”.
But what makes Chile being the first in South America? A high life expectancy reaching 80 years, as well as low mortality at various ages., says Álvaro Castillo, epidemiologist and researcher at the Center for society and health at the largest university research.
“Chile life expectancy and infant mortality are much approaching from developed countries and there is no cause of external death in young people, as killings by armed conflict”, says Castle.
The researcher believes, However, the good position of the country is relative. “This study measured very global indicators that other aspects are lost, as the inequality in access to health. It is important to stress that exists in the country”.
Figures also show that Chile regressed four posts compared to the latest ranking. Like this, We passed the post 29 globally, 33; and the health index fell from 77, 7-73,2 (100).
Among the factors that could have influenced the recoil are obesity - which currently affects 34% of the population- and a high rate of tobacco use (the highest of Latin America), explains Claudia Bambs, Head of the Department of public health at the Catholic University and researcher of the Centre for advanced chronic diseases (ACCDiS ).
“As the country does not go decidedly in population health strategies, These factors threaten to continue down from positions in the ranking”, says Bambs.
The rest of the countries evaluated by Bloomberg, Spain highlights this year. The country was as the healthiest of the world, snatching her leadership in Italy.
The study highlights that, 2040, is expected that Spain will have the highest life expectancy, with 86 years, followed by Japan, Singapore and Switzerland.