If you can't fly to England, consider getting the book!

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You are invited to attend

International Centre for Health and Society
2004 Public Seminar Series, UCL

Monday 7 June 5.00pm (followed by drinks & book launch at 6pm)
RSVP attendance essential

Professor Sir Michael Marmot, UCL
'Status Syndrome'

Abstract
Go on a 12 mile subway journey from Washington DC to suburban
Maryland. Life expectancy for men at the city end is 20 years shorter
than for men in the wealthy suburbs. Being at the bottom of the
social pile is bad for health, but so is not being at the top. Not
only do we see fine gradations in health according to status in the
Whitehall studies, but we see them everywhere. In Sweden, if you have
a PhD, you have longer life expectancy than if you have a
professional qualification. A Master's degree will gain you longer
life than a bachelor's. Why among people who are not deprived should
there be a social gradient in health? In his new book, Status
Syndrome, Michael Marmot draws on his own research, and
others', to show that the social gradient in health is related to the
nature of the society in which we live and work. Although all
societies have social hierarchies the magnitude of the gradients in
health vary. A gradient in health among non-human primates suggests
that the usual suspects - medical care, health behaviours - will not
do as an explanation. An important gateway to health inequalities is
through the brain. How much control an individual has and opportunity
for full social engagement in society are crucial for health. These
are related to early child development, material well being, the
nature of work and communities and the circumstances in which older
people live. All offer prospects for reduction in health
inequalities. Michael Marmot, Professor of Epidemiology and Public
Health and Director of the International Centre for Health and
Society at University College London, has been at the
forefront of research into health inequalities for the past 20 years,
as Principal Investigator of the Whitehall studies of British civil
servants, investigating explanations for the striking inverse social
gradient in morbidity and mortality. He was awarded a knighthood in
2000 by HM The Queen for services to epidemiology and understanding
health inequalities.

This public seminar will be followed by a reception to mark the
launch of Professor Michael Marmot's book 'Status Syndrome - How Our
Position on the Social Gradient Affects Longevity and Health',
Bloomsbury, June 2004. ISBN 0747570493.

RSVP seminar attendance not later than Friday 04/06/04 (indicating
any special needs and for direction to the seminar room). Seats are
limited and will be allocated on a first come first served basis.

International Centre for Health and Society Dept of Epidemiology &
Public Health UCL, 1 - 19 Torrington Place London. WC1E 6BT T: +44
(0)20 7679 1708 E: [log in to unmask]

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