Health & Aging in America

Baby Boomers in America – men and women born between 1946 and 1964 – are enjoying longer life expectancies of than previous generations.  Yet, they are doing so with higher rates of chronic disease, more disability, and lower self-rated health, as compared to people of earlier generations at the same age.  Dana King, from West Virginia University (West Virginia, USA), and colleagues compared two  generations at ages 46 to 64 years, enrolled in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). The team observed that individuals born during the post-war boom from 1946 to 1964 had 46% more diabetes, 38% more hypertension, and 5to 9-fold more hypercholesterolemia.  Obesity was significantly more common among all the baby boomers as well, noting that the previous generation engaged in more exercise. The study authors submit that their findings: “provide a vitally important context for health workforce and policy planning in the coming years.”