World health and disease - Alastair Gray

This book presents a global view of human health. It traces some of the major changes in the health and disease patterns affecting humankind, and sets these in the context of demographic change and economic development.

The book addresses a series of important questions. How and why have patterns of health and disease changed so dramatically in industrialized countries over the last century? And why, within a relatively wealthy country such as the United Kingdom, is there so much variation in health between women and men, married and single, people from different ethnic groups, manual and non-manual workers? What is the evidence supporting competing explanations for the 'health divide' between groups with the best and the worst health experience? Globally, how are the health problems confronting the populations of developing countries different from those of the developed world, where has progress been achieved, and where are past gains being undermined? Does rapid population growth testify to health improvements, but does it also threaten them?

To examine these questions, the authors of this book have drawn together arguments and evidence from a wide range of disciplines, in particular demography, economics, nutrition, history, biology and epidemiology. The book also considers ways in which evidence, and in particular statistical data, can be used or abused. Over 120 tables and figures illustrate and augment the text. Two detailed case studies - on Bangladesh and on the relationship between food, health and disease - explore the themes of the book in depth.