Amish residents of Holmes County, Ohio, who follow the traditional customs of this subculture, have much lower rates of cancer than does the state population in general, according to an investigation lead by Judith Westman of Ohio State University. Researchers had hypothesized that the Amish would have higher rates largely due to their failure to access mainstream medicine and their limited genetic diversity. However, medical histories, along with examination of local death records, found they had an overall cancer incidence of about 40 percent less than that for the general population. The researchers suggest that their aversion to drinking, smoking, and sexual permissiveness plays a significant role in their comparatively positive health status.
Note: PBS has just released a full-length documentary on this subculture, The Amish, through its American Experience series.
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