How to live as long as the rich

(MoneyWatch) 

A recent study released in the U.K. revealed that the gap in life expectancy between the rich and poor is widening. At age 65, men in the highest socio-economic group are living, on average, 3.5 years longer than those in the lowest socio-economic group. Twenty years ago, this difference in life expectancy was just 2.3 years.

Similar gaps in life expectancy have been reported in the United States, Canada, and Finland. Is this another instance where life is unfairly stacked in favor of the privileged?

Maybe not, but the reasons are instructive. The U.K. study attributed the differences in life expectancy to factors completely within an individual's control, factors that aren't related to wealth: smoking, obesity and alcohol consumption. Another study that was published in the British Medical Journal study concurred, noting that when differences in smoking are considered, there's no difference in life expectancy between the rich and poor.

Want to live like the rich? Then stop smoking, control your weight through diet and exercise, and limit your consumption of alcohol. Easier said than done, I know, but that's the reality. And I'm sure you've heard these recommendations before -- the latest insight is that here's an area where you have the power to put yourself on the same playing field as the rich.

There's another benefit to making these changes: You'll save lots of money by following these guidelines. Then invest the savings, and you'll be richer as well!

[skeezix06]

This is a serious question. Given the fact that they're shredding the final remaining strands of the safety net and that a lot of people simply aren't going to be able to save enough money to fund a retirement and that Wall Street is little more than a casino without the glitz, given the fact that its going to soon be as difficult to find a physician willing to see a medicare patient as it currently is to find a physician willing to see a medicaid patient, after watching my mother struggle to figure out which plan to choose for medicare D only to have to struggle with it again the next 1 or 2 years when she's lost a little more mental agility, that the possibility of losing the roof over one's head in old age rises with every cut they make. Why would we want to live as long as the rich?

[j_mcdonald-2009]

This seems to be a case of correlation from a common cause.

The same behaviors that shorten lifespan (smoking, excessive drinking, etc.) are also factors that are going to cause major financial damage.

[Gormone]

What the hell are you people talking about? This is legitement artical about life-span and lifestyle and the first two comments are on unrelated topics. Code this/ god that?
Gaps are there to be narrowed through concious choice and personal effort, regardless socio-econom inclination.
Unless of course, you choose to let others think for you, per the first two nitwits to comment on this worthy subject of self responce.

[julianpenrod]

The fact is that the rich and influential realize death is not an inevitability. As craven and avariciously self-seeking as the powerful and wealthy have demonstrated themselves to be, would any of them be able to be as confident and smirking as they are shown in their photographs if they knew death was coming? They understand that, if you work towards God's plan, if He wants you around for how you work His plan, He won't take you away from the world. And even those who act malignantly can move God's plan forward, byu providing an open and demonstrable incident of foul and vicious behavior. It's the fault of the soddenly witless and suicidally gullible for not recognizing this since it's so glaringly obvious! Gaining the ability to at least influence the thinking of huge numbers of people can be important in this, as long as you act toward God's plan. Unfortunately, many allow themselves to be talked into disbelieving their own senses when they see JFK, Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, or Princess Diana walking around, which they are. Tere are reports of Andy Kaufman being seen near his apartment on Central Park West.

[rational_1]

How's life in that parallel dimension you live in?

[djc200]

You completely lost me at "God" and "His plan". Sorry to burst your bubble, but that's a fallacy.