Many '60 something' employees are healthier and fitter than colleagues in their 30s research from PruHealth, has uncovered.
The first Britain's Healthiest Company Report, a study of nearly 10,000 people, shows the 60 somethings have a lower health risk.
The finding is based on PruHealth's unique Vitality Age calculator, which estimates years of life lost or gained by taking into consideration lifestyle risk factors to assess if the ‘health age' matches the actual chronological age.
The average Vitality (health) Age of those in their 60s is 3.9 years older than their actual age, which is closer in line to those in their 20s (whose average Vitality Age is 3.8 years older than their actual age).
Those in their 30s and 40s have a higher Vitality Age difference, at 4.26 and 4.3 years respectively.
An older Vitality Age, due to poor lifestyle choices such as smoking and little exercise, is costing people years off their lives, making them unhealthy and old before their time.
Dr Katie Tryon, head of clinical Vitality at PruHealth, said: "Those in their 30s and 40s, who should be at the prime of life are letting their health suffer - perhaps prioritising a stressful job, or having to manage the pressures of new parenthood or both.
Those in their 60s are closer, in terms of their health risk age difference, to those in their 20s. Perhaps, believing youth to no longer be on their side, they are more conscientious when it comes to life choices. However, no matter what age, this should be the case for everyone."
The biggest contributing factors for an older Vitality Age are lack of physical activity and being overweight. Out of the 10,000 UK employees who took part in the survey, 59% do not do enough physical activity, while 15% do no exercise, costing them 7.4 years off their life.
Dr Katie Tryon continues: "The results are quite stark. Those who live an unhealthy life will live a shorter life."
