BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Talks.cam//talks.cam.ac.uk// X-WR-CALNAME:Talks.cam BEGIN:VEVENT SUMMARY:An evolutionary perspective on why health inequalities exist. - P rof Rebecca Sear ( London School of Hygiene &\; Tropical Medicine) DTSTART:20190607T164500Z DTEND:20190607T181000Z UID:TALK125995@talks.cam.ac.uk CONTACT:Dr Antonio M. M. Rodrigues DESCRIPTION:Clear health inequalities exist within countries\, with the co nsequence that more advantaged individuals tend to live longer than disadv antaged individuals. This difference in lifespans appears partially driven by differences in behaviour\, in that more advantaged people tend to adop t healthier lifestyles (less smoking\, more exercise\, healthier diets) th an disadvantaged individuals. But what explains these differences in behav iour?\n\nAn evolutionary perspective predicts that variation in environmen tal factors will cause variation in behaviour. With respect to health ineq ualities\, the evolutionary framework of life history theory can be used t o predict that\, in ‘harsh’ environments (such as those experienced by disadvantaged individuals)\, behaviour will shift to become more present- oriented and less focused on the future\; whereas in more ‘benign’ env ironments (such as those experienced by advantaged individuals)\, individu als will be more likely to prioritise health in long-term rather than the present. (Note that this evolutionary perspective requires no differences in genetic make-up between groups).\n\nEvidence will be presented during t his talk to show that the predicted differences in behaviour are seen in e nvironments of more or less ‘harshness’ in the UK. This evolutionary p erspective results in a compassionate approach to public health which focu ses on changing features of the environment\, rather than on individual be haviour change\, as the solution to public health concerns. Such public he alth approaches which focus on environmental change have been described as ‘Jedi public health’ by the sociologist Arline Geronimus.\n LOCATION:Wolfson College\, Gatsby Room END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR