Baby Boomers have more illnesses than the Silent Generation at the same age, even though their life expectancy went up. — TNS
A new study has found that Baby Boomers – people born from 1946 to 1964 – are experiencing worse health outcomes than their predecessors, despite living longer on average than these previous generations.
In what the study calls a “generational health drift”, Baby Boomers across the United States and Europe have higher levels of diabetes, cholesterol, lung disease and heart problems than previous generations at the same age.
Looking at health data from more than 100,000 people aged 50 and older from 2008 to 2024, the study found a small break in disability trends from the Silent Generation (the generation preceding the Baby Boomers).
The researchers from the United Kingdom’s University of Oxford and University College London (UCL) say the results were “slowing, stalling or reversing for cohorts”, which is promising.
The results between men and women were similar; however, the study clarifies it is possible other studies may find gender disparities in this phenomenon.
While the study found no concrete reasoning for this change in quality of life, one factor may be the increase in obesity across post-World War II generations.
This quality of life change may be the start of a trend, according to study lead author and UCL doctoral candidate Laura Gimeno.
“Generation X were more likely to be obese, have diabetes, and be in poor mental health than Baby Boomers in their 40s,” Gimeno told CNN.
“The fact that we aren’t seeing an improvement here is concerning.” – By Morayo Ogunbayo/The Atlanta Journal-Constitution/Tribune News Service
