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Podcast: Plain English with Derek Thompson
Episode: A Mysterious Health Wave Is Breaking Out Across the U.S.
Description: Why do Americans die younger than citizens of other rich countries? The most important reason is that life in America is inexcusably dangerous. The U.S. has more fatalities from gun violence, drug overdoses, and auto accidents than just about any other similarly rich nation, and its obesity rate is about 50 percent higher than the European average. Put this all together, and the U.S. is rightly considered a “rich death trap” for its young and middle-aged citizens.That’s the bad news. Now here’s the good news. In the past 12 months, quietly and without m...