Are Baby Boomers the First Generation to Be Less Healthy Than Their Parents?

New information being reported indicates that for the first time a generation may be less healthy than its parent's generation.

A new study has found that the baby boomer generation are reaching retirement age with worse health than previous generations. Those that fit into the baby boomer generation are those born between 1948 and 1953.

The information was first reported by the 'Washington Post'. So what is making the baby boomers less healthy as there are many features of this generation that on first glance make it look like they will be healthier? For example there are fewer smokers in the baby boomer generation than in previous generations.

Well according to the study baby boomers have higher reports of problems with their blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and general mobility. According to a sociologist from the University of Texas at Austin, Mark D. Hayward, "We're seeing some very powerful evidence all pointing to parallel findings. The trend seems to be that people are not as healthy as they approach retirement as they were in older generations. It's very disturbing."

This study just adds to the concern brought up from previous studies that are also indicating that the baby boomer generation is less healthy at retirement than previous generations. The researchers on the study are saying that the information corresponds with other increasing health problems such as, obesity, lack of physical activity and higher stress levels. The Washington Post has said that if these findings are confirmed they "could force policymakers to rethink a host of expectations and projections about the nation's overall medical bill and the future of Social Security and other retirement programs."

In support of the reasons for the less healthy baby boomers is Harvard School of Public Health's, Lisa Berkman. She said, "People are working two jobs. There are not sleeping as much. They're experience more job insecurity. The have less time to take of themselves. There are more socially isolated. This could add up to a huge crisis and really calls for us to examine the things that perhaps we're not doing so well."

Some scientists are not wholly convinced about the findings of the study. These researchers think that the increase in health conditions amongst baby boomers can be simply explained by improved medical care that spots problems sooner. It is also important to point out the over the previous decades the life expectancy in the US has been going up. Some are saying the it is even possible that baby boomers are more aware of their health making them more likely to seek medical advice or make a complaint about heir bodies, but this does not necessarily mean the there are less healthy than previous generations.

Either way the information is definitely cause for concern and highlights the need for further investigations. If they are sicker it will be necessary to find out why.

Sources
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/19/AR2007041902458.html?referrer=emailarticle
http://www.news-medical.net/?id=24002
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=68446