Smarten up, slacker--you're costing us money!

[JaneV2.0]

It appears that we can add dumbth to our list of reasons to hound people for causing their own illness--if I'm reading this right, it contributes more to heart attacks than blood pressure.

http://mathildasanthropologyblog.wordpress.com/2010/06/03/a-low-iq-increases-the-risk-of-heart-attack/

I stand by my long-standing theory that disease stands at the intersection of genes and stress, and of course social disapprobation is a form of the latter. Others may postulate that being dull-witted leads to self-destructive behavior. Not a big logical leap there.

[redfox]

I'd suggest that low IQ isn't volitional. It's likely congenital &/or environmental. Lead paint, etc.

[JaneV2.0]

My post was tongue in cheek, but it does support my earlier contention that good health is largely influenced by genes. As you point out, intelligence is largely genetic, if twin studies can be believed.

[cjones]

In a culture in which you have to take an active almost contrarian stance to have good health habits, higher IQ would certainly affect the degree to which a person is able to analyze choices about exercise and eating and make better, healthier choices. Bad food and poor exercise habits are the "default" mode in Western culture, so lower IQ people would tend to follow the default mode unless they are surrounded by social or familial scaffolding that encourages and supports the healthier choices.