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The researchers say: "Why health status differs so dramatically in these two countries, which share much in terms of history and culture, is an unresolved puzzle.

"Given our finding of health differences between the US and England at young ages, a promising focus of future research - one that could help to elucidate the causes of poor health across the life course - is on health differences between countries at the earliest ages."

Public health experts suggested more generous holiday entitlements and more favourable working conditions in the UK might also play a part.

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But despite looking, the researchers did not find any real evidence that differences in obesity, alcohol consumption or physical activity were to blame.

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Smoking may be a factor, but Dr Melissa Martinson and colleagues doubt it because even younger Americans who have not yet been exposed to decades of tobacco smoke appear to be in worse health than English counterparts.
And although a larger share of Americans are uninsured or under insured compared to populations in England or other European countries, even groups with good access to health insurance experienced worse health than people in England.

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Originally posted by Bytemite:
Well, and this is starting to change, too. Everywhere that McDonalds or Pizza Hut becomes popular, you're going to see a dramatic rise in obesity rates. And some of this is already bearing out.

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