French remain unequal when it comes to health
The Local France - [email protected]
Published: 12 Feb, 2015 CET.
Updated: Thu 12 Feb 2015 17:17 CET
French women outlive French men and the wealthy play more sport than everyone else. A new report has revealed the biggest discrepancies when it comes to health in France.
The national statistics agency DREES published its sixth annual national health report on Thursday, with the sprawling 500-page dossier's authors praising the "overall good health" of the French, especially compared to other developed countries. However here are the five most glaring discrepancies in the country's health, according to French newspaper Le Figaro. Men and women's life expectancy Men in France have a life expectancy of 79.2 years, compared to 85.4 years for women. That's a difference of over six years. While this might sound like a lot, the gap is decreasing. Back in 1994 it was 8.2 years, and 7.1 years in 2003. French women die more from cancer than cardio-vascular problems, while it's the other way around for men. Daily alcohol consumption Eighteen percent of Frenchmen, that's almost one in five, drink alcohol every single day. That's compared to just six percent of French women - or around one in twenty. This figure, the report noted, is about half as bad as it was 20 years ago. The regions where people drink the most often are Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon, while those drinking the least can be found in Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France and Lorraine. 
(Photo: Paul Tridon/Flickr) Life expectancy compared to job The higher the professional position, the longer the life expectancy. Based on a French person at the age of 35, the report noted that managers can expect to live for another 47.2 years while the rest of the population can expect to live another 40.9 years. Adult exercise While 40 percent of adults say they play sport for at least ten minutes a week, it appears that a good salary directly relates to more physical activity. Around 54 percent of managers and professional workers says that they regularly exercise, compared to 27 percent of unskilled workers. 
(Photo: Tarnie/Flickr) Children's dental hygiene Parents with good jobs have kids with better teeth, the report noted. Over half (53 percent) of working class parents with children aged 10-11 will have had to deal with at least one decayed tooth. Only 26 percent of kids with parents in senior roles have had similar dental problems. 
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The national statistics agency DREES published its sixth annual national health report on Thursday, with the sprawling 500-page dossier's authors praising the "overall good health" of the French, especially compared to other developed countries.
However here are the five most glaring discrepancies in the country's health, according to French newspaper Le Figaro.
Men and women's life expectancy
Men in France have a life expectancy of 79.2 years, compared to 85.4 years for women. That's a difference of over six years. While this might sound like a lot, the gap is decreasing. Back in 1994 it was 8.2 years, and 7.1 years in 2003. French women die more from cancer than cardio-vascular problems, while it's the other way around for men.
Daily alcohol consumption
Eighteen percent of Frenchmen, that's almost one in five, drink alcohol every single day. That's compared to just six percent of French women - or around one in twenty. This figure, the report noted, is about half as bad as it was 20 years ago.
The regions where people drink the most often are Nord-Pas-de-Calais, Pays de la Loire, Midi-Pyrénées and Languedoc-Roussillon, while those drinking the least can be found in Haute-Normandie, Ile-de-France and Lorraine.
(Photo: Paul Tridon/Flickr)
Life expectancy compared to job
The higher the professional position, the longer the life expectancy. Based on a French person at the age of 35, the report noted that managers can expect to live for another 47.2 years while the rest of the population can expect to live another 40.9 years.
Adult exercise
While 40 percent of adults say they play sport for at least ten minutes a week, it appears that a good salary directly relates to more physical activity. Around 54 percent of managers and professional workers says that they regularly exercise, compared to 27 percent of unskilled workers.
(Photo: Tarnie/Flickr)
Children's dental hygiene
Parents with good jobs have kids with better teeth, the report noted. Over half (53 percent) of working class parents with children aged 10-11 will have had to deal with at least one decayed tooth. Only 26 percent of kids with parents in senior roles have had similar dental problems.
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