A THIRD of adults have two or more health problems by middle-age and the trend is worsening, say experts.
They are dogged by difficulties such as a bad back, asthma, high blood pressure, diabetes, mental ill health and high-risk drinking by their late-40s.
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People from poorer backgrounds were more likely to face health troubles by age 46 to 48, physical checks and questionnaires showed.
More than four in ten of them had two or more problems — compared with a third overall.
Those with mid-life troubles had often experienced physical difficulties, such as obesity, and mental ill-health when they were youngsters, a team from University College London found.
A study from 2007 on 1.7 million people aged from 45 to 64 revealed that three in ten had two or more health problems.
Dr Dawid Gondek, of UCL, said: “Compared to previous generations, it appears that the health of British adults in mid-life is on the decline.” He added: “Stark health inequalities appear to begin early in childhood.”
Researchers analysed data from 7,951 adults taking part in a British Cohort Study from when they were born.
The number of people with dementia will triple to 153million by 2050, a US study suggests. Researchers blame an ageing population, smoking and eating sugary and fatty foods.
