FARM divulges findings of the National Vital Statistics Report by the U.S. Public Health Service
In 2000, 1.32 million, or 54%, of
all U.S. deaths were attributed to diseases
for which consumption of animal
products represents a substantial
risk factor. The number was compiled
from the latest mortality figures reported
in the October 2001 National
Vital Statistics Report by the U.S.
Public Health Service.
The total included 633.5 thousand
deaths from several forms of heart
disease,
- 166 - from stroke,
- 58.2 - from other circulatory diseases,
- 258.8 - from several types of cancer,
- 68.7 - from diabetes mellitus,
- 40.5 - from kidney and gallbladder failure, and
- 98 - from a pro-rated number of ‘ill-defined’ diseases.
The diseases for which
meat consumption is a substantial
risk factor, were
identified by a panel of
physicians specializing in
diet and health. Identification
of meat-linked diseases
was conservative. Thus,
cancer of lung and pancreas
was not included, although
a plant-based diet appears to reduce
the risk. For ‘ill-defined’ and ‘other’
diseases, the number of deaths included
in the total was prorated according
to the ratio of meat-linked
deaths to all other deaths.
(FARM - farm@farmusa.org
- August 2002)
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