The age where smoking, drinking and lack of exercise starts to wreck your body – and it’s younger than you think

WORRYING about your health after a night out or weekend on the sofa probably sounds like an old person's game.

But scientists have found we might suffer sooner than we think from the impact of too little exercise, too much booze and a smoking habit.

1

Research by the Laurea University of Applied Sciences in Finland tracked the health of hundreds of kids born in 1959 into their 60s.

They had health checks at ages 27, 36, 42, 50 and 61, including full medical exams from 42 onwards.

Results showed that laziness, alcohol and fags all led to worse physical or mental health – and the effects kicked in in people's 30s.

The more habits someone had, and the longer they continued them, the greater the impact on factors like heart risk or depression.

Most health behaviours are adopted before age 30 and their effect may have already accumulated years before mid-life

Dr Tiia Kekäläinen

Study author Dr Tiia Kekäläinen said these people had already begun to rate their health worse by the time they were 36, in 1995.

Writing in the journal Annals of Medicine, she said: “Our findings suggest that the associations were mainly similar from age 36 to 61, so the effect of risky behaviours exists already at age 36.

“While risky health behaviours in mid-life have previously been associated with unfavourable health in old age, these associations exist already in earlier adulthood.

“It is important to consider that most health behaviours are adopted before age 30 and their effect may have already accumulated years before mid-life.”

About 80 per cent of adults in the UK regularly drink alcohol and 12 per cent smoke cigarettes.

Two thirds are overweight or obese and about one third do not get enough exercise.

Around three quarters of us die from illnesses that could have been prevented or at least delayed by cleaner living.

In recent years diseases linked to unhealthy lifestyles, such as type 2 diabetes, heart diseases and cancer, have increased in younger adults.

Figures show Brits are needing joint replacements at younger ages, early-onset bowel cancer cases are rising and people’s mental health is getting worse.

Dr Kekäläinen added: “Diseases such as heart disease and cancer cause almost three-quarters of deaths worldwide.

“But by following a healthy lifestyle, someone can cut their risk of developing these illnesses and reduce their odds of an early death.

“Our findings highlight the importance of tackling risky health behaviours, such as smoking, heavy drinking and physical inactivity, as early as possible to prevent the damage they do to from building up over the years.”