Research has suggested that the baby boom generation is experiencing a longer lifespan, but this is accompanied by declining health compared to their predecessors at the same age stage.
At a similar stage of life.
Obesity and other chronic conditions that typically affect individuals at an older age are increasingly affecting people at a younger age.
Experts, who have today described the findings as "concerning," worry that younger generations may now have to spend more time dealing with chronic illnesses and disabilities.
Previous research has also attributed Britain's overall health decline to poor mental well-being.
There is a discernible shift in the prevalence of health issues across different generations, indicating that younger generations, when compared to their immediate predecessors, display more adverse health conditions at a given age, says (UCL).
'Even with progress in medical technology and increased public awareness of healthy lifestyles, individuals born since 1945 are more likely to suffer from long-term health conditions and disabilities compared to their contemporaneous predecessors.'
'As a fifth of the population in affluent western countries is now over 65, rising demands for healthcare and social services will significantly impact government spending.'
Research scientists from the University of College London and Oxford University examined data on over 100,000 people from Britain, the United States, and Europe between the years 2004 and 2018.
They evaluated doctor-diagnosed chronic conditions, body mass index (BMI), records of mobility problems and disabilities, as well as grip strength and blood pressure levels.
The researchers divided participants into five groups based on their year of birth.
Results published in the Journals of Gerontology indicate a rising prevalence of chronic health issues, most notably when comparing individuals born between 1936 and 1945 to those born between 1955 and 1959.
Rates of chronic diseases increased over several generations in all regions worldwide.
Researchers found that adults in their younger age group had higher rates of cancer, lung disease, heart issues, diabetes, and unhealthy cholesterol levels compared to their peers of the same age.
Despite diabetes rates rising equally across all regions, the prevalence of cancer, heart conditions, and high cholesterol saw the greatest increase in England and Europe.
People born during the post-war boom were 1.5 times more likely to experience these health issues than those from earlier generations at the same life stage.
They also found that levels of grip strength – a measure of overall muscle power and healthy aging – decreased across generations in England and the US.
In Europe, in contrast, it either increased or remained stable.
People born in the UK during the baby boom period were nearly one-and-a-half times more likely to face difficulties with three or more personal care tasks than those born earlier and of the same age.
Ms. Gimeno added: 'Our investigation reveals disturbing new findings that more recently born generations are struggling with deteriorating health as they reach their later years.
"Despite declining rates of disability for the pre-war generations, chronic disease and rising obesity may be leading to severe disability for baby boomers.
'If life expectancy remains stable or continues to rise, these alarming trends may see younger generations spending more years in ill health and living with a disability.'
Research conducted earlier this year predicts that global life expectancy will increase by nearly five years by 2050, with males expected to reach an average lifespan of 76 years and females reaching an average lifespan of over 80 years.
study also found.
Experts indicated that this trend was primarily driven by public health efforts at the time, which aimed to prevent and significantly improve survival rates from health issues such as cardiovascular disease, nutritional disorders, and infections affecting newborns and new mothers.
Optimists also claim the statistics present a 'significant chance' to 'stay ahead of growing metabolic and dietary risk factors' including high blood pressure and BMI.
Last month also showed that the number of people in England and Wales who are hundred years old has increased more than twice since 2002, with 14,850 last year.
Women are more than four times as likely to become centenarians as men, with more than 12,000 reaching the milestone in 2023.
In comparison, slightly over 2,700 males achieved the age of 100 across the two countries.
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