Baby Boomer Health

The Washington Post published an article earlier this week presenting data that Baby Boomers are in worse health than their parents were at the same age.  In an era of every increasing medical care expenditures this is an interesting phenomenon to observe.

It is important to note that the study is based on survey research.  The survey question is about rating your own health on a scale of excellent, very good, good, fair, and poor.  One thing that may be happening is that people may have higher standards for what "excellent" health in middle age means.  Maybe excellent health in the generation of Baby Boomers' parents was about functionality and work.  While today's Baby Boomers see some of their peers running marathons and participating in other activities that require very high levels of health and fitness.  So, perhaps the fact that this is a relative and not absolute measure obscures some of what is going on as people may say, "I could never do that, so while I'm in pretty good health I must not be in excellent health, so I'll mark very good."  I have no data to back this up.  I am simply pointing to a difficulty with survey research.

Now, there are other important indicators here.  10% more of the Baby Boomers in middle age are obese compared with what their parents were at the same age (39 percent versus 29 percent as reported in the Washington Post article).  Could that make a difference?  You bet!  Does that mean that the Baby Boomers are any less happy?  Perhaps not, because some of what leads to obesity are choices that we make about career and family.  Different careers.  Different family activities.  Different amounts of time spent playing sports rather than watching sports.  Different amounts of time spend in the car rather than walking.  All have an impact on health.  Their impact on happiness is not as clear.

The Washington Post article also pointed out that the study noted different prevalence of diabetes and use of a cane or walker at middle age.

The article also mentioned that this may lead to a longer life with not so healthy extra years.  This is not necessarily the desired outcome.  There has been an enormous amount of work done to try to figure out how to compress morbidity.

The economic choices that we make before middle age have a great impact on out health.  Our health in middle age will shape the economic choices of the rest of our lives.  What lessons will younger generations be able to learn about planning for their future health and economic well-being?