Modern adult generations show decline in health vs. past generations

Results from a recent cohort study revealed a higher prevalence of overweight, obesity and hypertension in today’s adults compared with those of previous generations.

Using the Doetinchem cohort study, which enrolled participants from 1987 to 1991 and had follow-up examinations after 6, 11 and 16 years, researchers found that the generations born more recently experienced CV problems much sooner than the generations born earlier. The 6,377 participants were separated by sex and generation, as defined by 10-year intervals (20 to 29, 30 to 39, 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 years), at baseline. Prevalence of hypertension, overweight and obesity rose as age increased, but participants born more recently experienced these health risks earlier than previous generations (P<.05). For example, prevalence of overweight increased from 40% in the baseline group of men aged in their 30s to 52% in the same age group, who were in their 20s at baseline, at 11-year follow-up.

The researchers also observed other trends, including unfavorable generation shifts in overweight and obesity in men between every generation. For women, this was particularly notable among women born between the most recent generations. Unfavorable generation shifts in diabetes were also found among men but not women. Prevalence of hypercholesterolemia did not appear to change between generations, but results indicated a favorable shift in low HDL cholesterol between the two oldest generations only. The researchers observed no association between generation shifts and socioeconomic status.

Although the exact causes for this generation shift still require further investigation, the researchers said these data underscore the need for lifestyle modification among recently born generations. Study researcher Gerben Hulsegge, of Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment in the Netherlands, described the younger generation as “15 years ahead” of the older generation, meaning they experience the same metabolic risks associated with people 15 years older than themselves.

“The prevalence of obesity was up to twice as high in just 10 years time,” Hulsegge told Cardiology Today. “This was reflected in unfavorable generation shifts in hypertension and diabetes in this time span. The large shifts in overweight/obesity will probably result in a continuum or even worsening of unfavorable trends in hypertension and, especially, diabetes.” Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.