Healthier at 40 than in your Mid-20's

Over-40s are turning to healthier lifestyles with more than half rating themselves as more health conscious than they were in their mid-20s, according to new research¹ by life and pensions giant Prudential.

Nearly one in five (17 per cent) of working over-40s say they are physically fitter than they were in their mid-20s, the nationwide study shows. And the fitness bug even applies to older age groups with 11 per cent of over-65s reckoning they are physically fitter than in their mid-20s.

The nationwide study asked over-40s to rate themselves now compared with their mid-20s and found 53 per cent believe they have a healthier general lifestyle now. However, being happier with their lifestyle than in their mid-20s does not necessarily translate into all aspects of their lives according to the research which asked about career, finances and relationships.

Just 45 per cent of over-40s feel happier about their financial planning for retirement than in their mid-20s while a worried 36 per cent admit to feeling less positive about retirement planning than in their mid-20s. Over-40s are most positive about financial security and relationships now compared with in their mid-20s.

Kirsty Anderson, retirement expert at Prudential, said: “Growing older means changing attitudes and it is striking that more than half of over-40s believe that they are healthier now than in their mid-20s, with nearly one in five claiming to be fitter.

“As they earn more and save more it is good to see they feel more financially secure but it’s worrying that so many are less positive about retirement planning especially as many will be fast approaching retirement.

“Taking control of finances is not as daunting as it seems if people focus on a range of small steps such as saving as much as possible, and if people can adopt healthier lifestyles over-40 they can do the same with their retirement plans.”

The commitment to healthier lifestyles does not always translate into taking exercise – around 30 per cent admit they either rarely if ever exercise for 20 minutes or only do it once a month. However, a committed 22 per cent say they exercise for 20 minutes every day.