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Middle age health crisis as 8 in 10 are overweight and drinking too much

Credit: WestEnd61/REX/Shutterstock
Credit: WestEnd61/REX/Shutterstock

People aged between 40 and 60 are neglecting their health, according to a new study.

Public Health England (PHE) says that 8 out of 10 middle-aged people are overweight, drink too much or fail to exercise enough, and it’s leading to a health crisis.

A number of factors have contributed to the situation, including the prevalence of desk jobs and the ready availability of fast food.

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PHE also says that the so-called ‘sandwich generation’ are not looking after themselves thanks to the dual responsibilities of caring for children and their ageing parents.

Obesity is one of the biggest problems for the 40-60 age group, with 77% of men and 63% of women currently overweight or obese.

The rate of diabetes diagnoses has also doubled for the same group within the last 20 years.

As part of a new campaign, One You, PHE has put together a quiz to help you tackle problem areas in your life. More than 1.1 million people have taken the quiz so far, which suggests apps and websites to help you get in shape, quit smoking, drink less and eat healthily.