Follow-up - INA
A recent study has warned of the increasing vulnerability of younger generations to physical and mental illnesses at earlier ages, due to rising obesity rates and the prevalence of mental disorders. This leads to them spending more years in poorer health compared to previous generations.
The study, conducted by researchers from Oxford University and University College London, indicated that generations born between 1946 and 2002 are experiencing a significant decline in public health indicators, despite the continued rise in life expectancy.
According to the study, published in the Journal of Population Studies, this decline could have negative repercussions on the labor market and the economy. The study projects that the proportion of those over 65 will reach approximately a quarter of the UK population by 2050, further straining healthcare and social care systems.
The researchers pointed out that if this trend continues, it could lead to a decrease in the number of people able to work and pay taxes, coinciding with an increase in the number of retirees and a rise in chronic disease rates.
In the same context, a report issued by the Health and Social Care Committee in the British Parliament confirmed that a lack of physical activity is one of the most prominent factors causing obesity, heart disease, diabetes and some types of cancer.