Grayson West
Certain diseases earned reputations as “rich people’s ailments” through a mix of lifestyle factors and social assumptions. Wealthy diets, sedentary habits, and leisure activities genuinely influenced some conditions, while others simply appeared more common among elites because they were documented more thoroughly. The slides ahead reveal which illnesses carried this unusual label.
Gout
Formerly referred to as the “disease of kings,” Gout was associated with lavish diets. In the 18th century, European elites experienced a higher prevalence of Gout than the working class. The attacks were sometimes viewed as a status symbol, with Benjamin Franklin even writing satirical essays about his own experiences.
Type 2 Diabetes
Once believed to primarily affect those with access to excess sweets and refined foods, Type 2 diabetes emerged as a public health threat in the mid-20th century. Interestingly, Queen Victoria herself had a fondness for sugary treats. For years, the focus on its causes has largely centered around lifestyle factors.
Obesity
Victorian England considered a fuller figure proof of prosperity, especially since the poor were often so thin. Renaissance portraits frequently depicted wealthy figures with larger bodies as an ideal. Certain cultures even had “fattening rooms” where elite brides-to-be stayed in preparation for marriage.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Early medical observers noticed that rheumatoid arthritis appeared more frequently in affluent urban areas rather than among manual laborers. Expensive spa treatments became the primary therapy, reinforcing beliefs that this was a “rich person’s disease” when wealthy patients simply had better access to medical care and documentation.
Hypertension
Popular magazines like Time, Newsweek, and Reader’s Digest once dubbed hypertension the “executive illness.” The idea stemmed from the sedentary and stressful lives of high-powered individuals. While later studies debunked the theory that stress exclusively targeted the rich, a persistent misconception about their health remained.
Allergies
There was a time when allergies were considered an upper-class condition. Surrounded by ornamental plants, wealthy families experienced strange reactions and sometimes wore masks that doubled as accessories. Hay fever earned a reputation as a disease of privilege, frequently appearing in reports on London’s elite children.
Heart Disease
In the 19th century, heart problems were most common among bankers and merchants, as shown in a 2018 study from the “American Journal of Cardiology.” Early research blamed fatty foods and stress, often focusing on wealthy patients. This led to the misconception that heart disease only affected the rich.
Eating Disorders
A famous psychiatrist, Hilde Bruch, noted in her influential 1978 book “The Golden Cage” that most anorexic girls came from upper-middle or upper-class homes. That perception contributed to the idea of “affluent anxieties.” Fashion magazines of the 1970s not only perpetuated these myths but also glamorized thinness, further reinforcing harmful ideals of beauty.
Skin Cancer
Early sunscreen ads targeted wealthy beachgoers and associated skin protection with luxury and leisure. Melanoma rates rose among affluent sun-seekers in the early 20th century, a time when tanning became a status symbol. Even Coco Chanel helped make a tanned appearance more widely accepted.
Kidney Disease
Rich diets, high in purines from meat and alcohol, were believed to cause Gout, which leads to severe kidney damage. Obesity, which is also associated with a wealthy lifestyle, places additional pressure on the kidneys and raises the likelihood of kidney disease. These factors contributed to Kidney Disease being labeled as an “elite” disease.