Is 40 The New 60? Survey Reveals Most Adults’ Bodies Start To Break Down In Their 40s
by John Anderer
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LONDON — Nobody ever said growing old is fun. Still, a surprising recent survey of 2,000 British adults finds that most people are feeling some serious wear and tear on their bodies as early as their mid-forties. The average respondent will start to notice their knees creaking and cracking around 47, notice hearing deterioration at 49, and start to feel intense back pain around 44.
Enjoy your sense of smell while you still can, as the average respondent says their nose began to dull around 46. Ankles will also start to seriously weaken around the age of 47.
Joints are another common problem, with three in four respondents saying they deal with joint pain on a daily basis. On average, joint pain starts to pop up around the age of 49.
Another interesting finding: 10% of respondents say their eyesight started to worsen as early as their 20s.
“The fact that people are starting to notice their bodies are weakening and aren’t as strong in their thirties is an early indicator that help is needed,” comments Dr Sarah Brewer, medical director for Healthspan, the company that commissioned the survey. “This can take the form of targeted exercise, dietary changes and taking nutritional supplements such as glucosamine and omega 3s. Looking after your body from a young age can also make the aging process easier.”
All in all, nine in 10 respondents say they have at least one body part that just isn’t as strong or effective as it once was. Another eight in 10 say they’ve noticed a steady and certain deterioration in their body, with most of that group believing the decline began around the age of 37-40.
In fact, around their late thirties or early forties, four in 10 respondents admit they started to struggle with kneeling down, and one in five started developing trouble walking up and down stairs.
Fast forward a few years, and by their mid forties, more than 10% of respondents say they started to find it hard to drive for long distances. And 18% started to have issues with opening jars due to wrist pain.
Today, seven in 10 respondents say they have a hard time even getting off the couch, and usually end up making a few grunting noises.
Of course, with all of this physical trouble, anxiety is sure to follow; 30% of respondents say they are worried for what the future holds when it comes to back pain, and 28% dread the thought of their joint pain continuing to intensify.
It’s no surprise, then, that 43% of respondents say they wish they had taken better care of their bodies when they were young. Also, over 60% have warned their children not to make the same mistakes they’ve made, but 40% say they don’t think their kids took the advice seriously.
Another four in ten respondents believe their problem body parts are hopeless, and don’t even entertain the idea of ever getting back to full strength. Although, in a perfect world, a third of respondents would like to regain their knee health, and 31% long for improved joint health.
However, despite all of these complaints, 55% say they’ve never even visited a doctor about how they feel.
The survey was conducted by OnePoll.
