Significant disparities in smoking, physical exercise, diet, and alcohol consumption afflict many of Western Europe’s welfare states. The welfare system, which was created to combat poverty, has been less effective against “diseases of affluence” like heart disease and lung cancer.
此外，地位较高的社会经济群体总是首先改变行为，更能抛弃危害健康的行为，比如吸烟和高脂肪饮食。因此，卫生当局的新行为建议总是会（至少暂时地）扩大健康不平等性。