He brought the nation Obamacare, but a new survey on overall American health finds that people felt better under former President George W. Bush than under President Obama.
What’s more, the nation says it is fatter despite nonstop White House healthy eating and exercise campaigns like the first lady’s Let’s Move initiative. Also, self-reported depression and diabetes are also up.
Gallup, which this week has been releasing surveys on the nation’s well-being, said in its latest that 22.6 percent of Americans during Bush’s last year said their health was excellent. Since, however, has steadily declined and is now just 19 percent.
“This drop in reports of excellent health since 2008 is largest among those younger than 45, with no change measured among seniors aged 65 and older. Personal health assessments worsened across all four major racial and ethnic groups — whites, blacks, Hispanics and Asians — with the greatest drops coming from Asians (down 5.5 percentage points) and whites (down 3.8 points). Blacks’ and Hispanics’ assessments each dropped by less than two points,” said Gallup.
More shocking than how people say they feel, is how they describe their weight. Obesity in every race, said Gallup, has increased.
“Since 2008, obesity has increased by nearly three points to 28.3 percent, and lifetime diagnoses of diabetes have increased about one point to 11.5 percent, a statistically significant climb. Self-reports of clinical diagnoses of depression have also edged up since 2008,” said Gallup.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
