Comments on: New Medical & Dental Clinic in Rainier Beach Seeks to Reduce Radical Disparities in Health

By: Rich

Rich — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 07:12:23 +0000

Garlic, you rather seem to miss the point: All these factors (obesity, diabetes, etc) of course contribute to a lesser life expectancy, which is a health disparity.

Of course you can compare Harlem and Palm Springs – exposing the differences in health status shows the impact of the differences between the two.

How else would you identify health disparities?

By: Garlic Gulch

Garlic Gulch — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 19:03:39 +0000

Everyone has a good point here, all I’m saying is comparing South Seattle with Mercer Island is like comparing Harlem with Palm Springs.

It’s a crude and cruel comparison, mostly rich vs. mostly poor. These type of “shocking disparities in health” statements enables these clinics to receive more government funding.

Mercer Island is not in the city limits. Comparing life expectancy between south seattle w/north and west seattle would be a more accurate indicator. Taking in factors like obesity, alcoholism, diabetes, drug use, and murder would also be helpful in such a study.

By: trudy206

trudy206 — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 04:03:50 +0000

My grandma is 96 years old living in her own home on South Beacon Hill for over 3 decades, her diet consists mostly organic home grown asian vegetables.

Meanwhile my teenage nephew who lives on Mercer Island has a bad case of acne and a penchant for fried and junk food…

It will be interesting to see who outlives who…

By: Rich

Rich — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 03:07:57 +0000

Garlic, what does the size of the population have to do with the life expectancy? Whether SE Seattle is 2, 5 or 15 times the population of Mercer Island, the average life expectancy is lesser.

By: Tom T

Tom T — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:58:22 +0000

Make that retail grocery stores.

By: Tom T

Tom T — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:57:57 +0000

And the city’s retail consultant reported that we have an overabundance of retail food outlets in the South End. Seriously.

By: SolvayGirl

SolvayGirl — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 00:43:06 +0000

Actually Garlic…low-income people get most of their calories from cheap and fattening carbs and fast food, so now—unlike in less modern times—thinness is a sign of wealth. Have you priced fresh produce and lean protein these days? No Mediterranean Diet for the low-income.

By: Garlic Gulch

Garlic Gulch — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 22:57:38 +0000

Who makes up this crap? The population of south and southeast Seattle is much higher than Mercer Island alone. It would be a more appropriate to compare the life expectancy between Medina and M.I. residents and compare south seattle to north or west seattle.

Also, all bets North Seattle has a higher obesity rate than south and southeast Seattle, because poor southend seattle people can’t afford to eat (sarcasm intended).

By: Yocheved

Yocheved — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:10:15 +0000

“people living in south and southeast Seattle have a life expectancy almost 10 years shorter than Mercer Island residents”

Gee, you think the drive by shootings, muggings and crack addictions might have anything to do with it?