Oxford University says young people suffering poor health

A study of more than 8,000 people born since 1946 found the issues were most stark when it came to obesity and mental health.

For several outcomes – particularly obesity, mental ill health and diabetes -“prevalence of poor health was higher in more recent generations”.

The team said: “Long-term declines in mortality and fertility mean that by 2050, one quarter of the British population will be aged 65 and over, with considerable implications for future demand for health and social care and also for the economy.

“Ensuring that more recently born cohorts both live longer and do so in good health is important for facing the challenges of population ageing.”

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The team examined changes in physical and mental health across the generations born between 1946 and 2000–02.

A statement from the team said: “While several mechanisms could explain the generational health drift, evidence from the British birth cohorts suggests that more recent cohorts are experiencing an earlier onset of poor health for several outcomes, particularly obesity and mental ill health.

“If more recent generations are ‘drifting’ backwards in health, it implies that society is not reaching the biological limits of health improvement but rather seeing the consequences of preventable social and environmental exposures that have shaped population health over time and across generations.

“The generational health drift has serious implications for policy, planning and the funding allocations needed to be able to support a greater number of people living with chronic health conditions.”