Sir Michael Marmot is a leading epidemiologist and public health expert with over 35 years of dedicated research into health inequalities. His work focuses on understanding the social determinants of health and on how to reduce disparities in health outcomes across different populations. Marmot's extensive research endeavors, including leading key international studies and advising the World Health Organization, have significantly advanced our comprehension of the factors influencing human well-being. His goal is not only to analyze these issues but to champion practical solutions for a more equitable healthcare landscape.
Differences in health care are not a simple matter of rich and poor. In every country, health is linked to degrees of social advantage. Compared with people at the top, those in the middle of the social hierarchy are at a higher risk of suicide, heart disease, lung disease, obesity and diabetes. The Health Gap presents compelling evidence for a radical change in the way we think about health, and indeed society.
"Bold, important and masterful . . . Marmot's message is not just timely, it's urgent."-The Washington Post Book WorldYou probably didn't realize that when you graduate from college you increase your lifespan, or that your co-worker who has a slightly better job is more likely to live a healthier life. In this groundbreaking book, epidemiologist Michael Marmot marshals evidence from nearly thirty years of research to demonstrate that status is not a footnote to the causes of ill health-it is the cause. He calls this effect the status syndrome.The status syndrome is pervasive. It determines the chances that you will succumb to heart disease, stroke, cancers, infectious diseases, even suicide and homicide. And the issue, as Marmot shows, is not simply one of income or lifestyle. It is the psychological experience of inequality-how much control you have over your life and the opportunities you have for full social participation-that has a profound effect on your health.The Status Syndrome will utterly change the way we think about health, society, and how we live our lives.