A third of Generation X adults have 'multiple long-term health problems in their late 40s'

More than a third of the U.K.'s Generation X have multiple long-term health problems in their late 40s, according to new research.

Researchers from University College London questioned 7,951 adults born in 1970 between 2016 and 2018, and nurses measured their blood pressure and took blood samples.

Their results, published in the BMC Public Health journal, found more than a quarter of people engaged with high-risk alcohol consumption, while more than one in five reported chronic back issues.

Illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes, mental ill-health, and asthma were also widespread, with 34 per cent of the adults reporting two or more of such chronic health problems.

Those from poorer families, where the father is defined as unskilled, were 43 per cent more likely to have multiple long-term health problems than their wealthier peers.

Overweight young people, or those internalising their problems at an early age, statistically had more chronic health issues in midlife.

A major study in 2007 found 30 per cent of people aged 45 to 64 suffered multiple health problems, so the problem appears to be getting worse.

Lead author Dr Dawid Gondek from UCL said: "It shows that a substantial proportion of the population are already suffering from multiple long-term physical and mental health problems in their late 40s, and also points to stark health inequalities which appear to begin early in childhood."

Gondek said he was worried about the number of people with health issues while "still relatively young", and encouraged public health agencies to target middle-aged people. Prior research has claimed improvements to health are linked to higher life satisfaction and earnings.

"It is not a good prospect for an ageing population that you can expect to live longer but many in poor health," Gondek added.