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Retiring Baby Boomers in Bad Physical Shape?

Chiropractic Economics, 4/9/08

Abstract:

Americans in their early to mid-50s report poorer health, more pain, and more trouble doing everyday physical tasks than their older peers reported at the same age in years past, according to research published in print and online by the nonprofit National bureau of Economic Research (NBER)

The study, supported by National Institute on Aging (NIA), a component of the National Institutes of Health, showed:

The two younger  groups (born in 1942-1947 and in 1948-53) were less likely than the oldest group (born in 1936-1941_ to have said their health was "excellent or  very good" at 51 to 56 years of age. The youngest group reported having more pain, chronic health conditions, and drinking and psychiatric problems than people who were the same age 12 years earlier. Compared with the oldest group, the youngest group was more likely to have reported difficulty in walking, climbing steps, getting up from a chair, kneeling, or crouching, and doing other normal daily physical tasks.

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