odd reporting

The Herald today published, in the World section, a dinky little story reproduced from the Independent. It was accompanied by a picture of Renee Zellwegger as Bridget Jones, and largely focused on poor Bridget Jones-type women (ie single, in their 30s) and how they are going to die younger unless they find a man (or woman?).

The odd thing is that the report shows that single men are TWICE as likely to die young as single women. Women are 4.8% more likely to die young, if they are single, whereas men are 10% more likely. The 4.8% for women is compared to 5% for smokers. No comparisons are made for the figure for males.

Discussion of all this in the tea room created much mirth. But then none of us were single.