AsianScientist (Apr. 7, 2014) – Researchers at the University of Adelaide warn that if current trends continue, Generation X will overtake Baby Boomers in terms of poor health, which could have huge implications for healthcare and the workforce.
In a paper published in the journal PLOS ONE, University of Adelaide researchers compared the health status of Baby Boomers (born from 1946-1965) and Generation X (1966-1980) at the same age range of 25-44 years.
They found Generation X had significantly poorer levels of self-rated health, and higher levels of obesity and diabetes compared with Boomers, with no real difference in physical activity between the two groups.
“Generation X appears to have developed both obesity and diabetes much sooner when compared with Baby Boomers, which is a major concern on a number of fronts,” says co-author and University of Adelaide PhD student Rhiannon Pilkington.
Generation X is more than twice as likely to be overweight or obese and have diabetes at 25 to 44 years of age, compared to Baby Boomers at the same age in 1989.
The prevalence of obesity in men is nearly double, with 18.3 percent of Generation X males obese compared to 9.4 percent of Baby Boomers at the same age. The gap is not as profound for women, with 12.7 percent of Generation X females classified as obese compared to 10.7 percent of Baby Boomers at the same age.
“Although the two groups in our study did not seem to have any difference in levels of physical activity, our lifestyles and food environments have changed drastically over recent decades.
“Transport options and workplaces encourage sedentary behavior, and food high in fat and sugar is often more readily available than a healthier alternative. This may account for why the younger generation is developing unhealthy weight levels at an earlier age,” she says.
The poor health of Gen X could have a profound impact on the supply of labor and put a huge stress on the healthcare system, Pilkington says.
“There is the potential for obesity-related health problems to propel many from the workforce early, or to drastically reduce their ability to work. If ongoing generations continue down this path of developing what were once considered to be age-related conditions earlier in life, the consequences for healthcare costs will be enormous,” said Pilkington.
The article can be found at: Pilkington et al. (2014) Are Baby Boomers Healthier than Generation X? A Profile of Australia’s Working Generations Using National Health Survey Data.
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Source: University of Adelaide; Photo: Mike Licht/Flickr/CC.
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