Profesorul Witold A. Zatonski conduce de trei ani proiectul ‘Closing the Gap‘, avand ca subiect de studiu ‘inegalitatile’ dintre primii 15 membri ai UE (EU15) si noile tari membre est-europene in ceea ce priveste starea de sanatate.

Studiul a constatat ca rata mortalitatii din cauze cardio-vasculare este mult mai ridicata in tarile est - europene. Unul dintre motive ar fi consumul excesiv de alcool. Nimic surprinzator.
Paradoxal, numarul cazurilor de deces ca urmare a bolilor cardio-vasculare a scazut totusi in ‘EU5′ (Cehia, Ungaria, Polonia, Slovenia si Slovacia) din cauza inlocuirii progresive in alimentatie a grasimilor animale cu cele vegetale (un factor important se pare ca a fost evolutia dupa 1990 a preturilor la diferitele alimente de baza ).
In schimb, in ce priveste EU2 (Bulgaria si Romania), exista o ipoteza conform careia preferintele legate de tipurile de uleiuri vegetale alimentare ar putea fi o cauza. Mai precis, in aceasta zona predomina consumul de ulei de floarea-soarelui, care nu contine acizi grasi tip omega-C (omega-3- o sursa cunoscuta fiind ‘uleiul de peste’), care, potrivit studiilor, ar duce la scaderea riscului bolilor cardio-vasculare. O solutie ar putea fi amestecarea uleiului de floarea soarelui utilizat in bucatarie cu alte uleiuri vegetale.

Concluzia studiului: ‘inegalitatile’ in ceea priveste sanatatea dintre cele doua ‘grupe’ de tari europene se datoreaza stilului de viata diferit.
In interviul de pe EuroActiv, profesorul Zatonski explica faptul ca aceasta nu este o problema legata de saracie, ca poti fuma, manca incorect sau duce o viata dezordonata si daca ai destui bani. Pana aici corect. Dar … romanii mananca in general dupa cum ii tin buzunarele … unii manaca sanatos … multi sunt fericiti ca au ce manca … altii…

The European Union started today a new anti-smoking campaign - see NicoMarket. They are promoting few fake products, which are suppose to stimulate (and simulate) the negative side effects of smoking.

Personally I think it is rather stupid. No smoker will be impressed (no, I don’t smoke and I hate smokers).

Nothing like a picture of lungs destroyed by cancer, a coffin and a sign: “We wish you to gain what are you striving for every single day of your life. But that’s no need to poison others, too. Don’t share this ‘gift’ with us, please”

..or cigarettes that only lit at both ends. Enjoy!

An European Commission - UEFA common campaign promoting physical activity will present this season a TV spot during the Champions League matches. The voice belongs to Luciano Pavarotti.

Also, this week is the sixth edition of the annual European Mobility Week, under the theme ‘Streets For People’, that aims to prove that reclaiming road space for pedestrians and cyclists can serve to cut congestion and pollution without reducing people’s mobility. More than 1,500 cities will take part. Bucharest is one of them, although our mayor, Adrian Videanu, seems to think we have no problems with ‘road safety, congestion, pollution and accessibility’. We are quite an example.
Right!

This was one rumor I would like to be true. Actually, I did not find out about it until I saw this press release. At least we now know something about Videanu’s taste in reading.