I wonder if there is a way to measure the effects of attitude and if it plays a role. For example, my in-laws are both diabetic, one is insulin dependent, and both my spouse and I are astonished at the lack seriousness that they both have towards their health. As in, not measuring their blood sugar levels on a regular basis, and then just taking a shot of insulin at whatever-dose, because they didn't measure their blood sugar level. Missing doses, not making dietary adjustments (excessive sugar/candy intake), etc.. Not sure if it is solely laziness, or some sort of low-level brain damage, or asense of entitlement that the world will just cater to me, or giving up on life, or what.

Diet seems like the obvious one. Both in big picture sense like high fructose corn syrup vs sugar cane, but also on ingredients. EU bans a bunch of stuff the US does not. Presumably a couple of misses in there, but probably also some hits.

Applying that over an entire population for their entire life...a couple years diff sounds plausible

The article itself says this, but this likely has very little to do with healthcare. We in the US have a higher murder rate, we drive more, walk and cycle less, air and water pollution is worse. We've had free movement between states far longer than the EU has existed and facilitated free movement between member countries, and while labor mobility is great for the economy, it makes for weaker communities and social bonds when everyone is a transplant.

The study only compared Americans to Europeans. Of course diet and access to healthcare, even for the wealthy, is part of the issue here.

We have to ask "earlier than who"?

Of course, the majority of Americans are descended from Europeans, but the American diet is significantly worse than most European countries, and the healthcare system is not as accessible. Americans lack the levels of exercise Europeans get, and a host of other factors.

The less wealthy in America die earlier than the wealthy, but being richer in America buys more years, but not more years than one would live if in Europe.

I wonder if anyone's studied family connections of colonies vs old regions?

Like for Americans, at some point all of their ancestors significantly detached themselves from their place of origin and relocated. For e.g. Europe some people definitely did that but not all and maybe not even most?

I would expect Americans to have less of a familial social network in general, which could affect health and lifespan.

>more work still needs to be done to determine which specific aspects of European social systems − whether health care delivery, education access, retirement security or tax policies − most effectively protect health regardless of personal wealth.

Hypothesis.

Rich in the US healthcare system suffer from overtreatment. Medical ads are allowed, marketing drugs and treatments to people who don't need them is a health risk. In the US doctors have much stronger incentives to overtreat. They can be sued much easier for not treating or giving medicines the patient wants, if something happens.

Small discussion (12 points, 2 days ago, 7 comments) https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43612361

People like to say that the American healthcare system is great if you’re rich, but based on this study, that’s not true. Interesting.