Eight in ten middle-aged Brits are overweight, don’t exercise enough and drink too much
Four in five tubby Brits face life-threatening illnesses for their poor food and lifestyle habits
EIGHT out of ten middle-aged Brits are putting themselves at a higher risk of life-threatening illnesses because they don't exercise enough and drink too much, scientists say.
A Public Health England report said 83 per cent of 40 to 60-year-olds are drinking too much, exercising too little or overweight.
It warns this is leaving them more vulnerable to serious ailments such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease and strokes.
Some 87 per cent of men and 79 per cent of women in that age group exceed boozing guidelines, fail to meet national exercise targets or carry too much flab.
Health experts say the “sandwich generation” – who care for younger children and ageing parents – often believe they are too busy looking after others to take care of themselves.
They urge Brits to make simple lifestyle changes, such as walking up flights of stairs, cutting back on booze and preparing fresh meals.
Figures show 77 per cent of men and 63 per cent of women in middle age are overweight.
The diabetes rate in this age group has doubled in two decades.
PHE adviser Prof Sir Muir Gray said: “The demands of modern day living are taking their toll on the health of the nation, and it’s those in middle age that are suffering the consequences most, as their health reaches worrying new levels.
“Busy lives and desk jobs make it difficult to live healthily. But a few small changes will have significant benefits.”
Diabetes UK said that doing nothing about it “can be catastrophic.”