Fabulous at 40: Average 40+ Feels 11.5 years younger

• 44 per cent of Brits feel younger than their real age
• Unhealthy lifestyles could be leading to 20 and 30-somethings feeling older than their years

The old adage of ‘being over the hill’ in later life may need to be revised as it seems the stresses and strains of modern life is hitting the younger generation the hardest.

New research from PruHealth, the health insurer that rewards you for being healthy, has

found that today’s 20-somethings feel three years older than their birth certificate states and the average 30-something feels their actual age, but the average Brit aged 40+ feels 11.5 years younger than their actual age.*

However, worryingly, 20-30-somethings seem to have energy levels closer to those of retirees.  More people in their 20s and 30s have a dip in their energy levels throughout the course of the day than any other age group, while one in eight (12 per cent) 30-somethings don’t feel energetic at any point during the day at all - compared with only 6 per cent of people in their 60s!

Is 40 the turning point for health and wellbeing?

The research highlights how people in their 20s and 30s live unhealthier lifestyles than those in their 40s and 50s, which could be the reason for the younger generation’s sluggish energy levels and feeling older than their years.  The top three reasons for lower energy levels were identified as an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise and not getting enough sleep. However, little action appears to be being taken to counteract this with only 47 per cent saying they eat a balanced diet, almost a fifth (18 per cent) never exercise, and a quarter sleep for less than 6 hours a night.

The older generation tends to follow a more balanced diet, eats less unhealthy foods such as takeaways, and participates in a similar level of exercise as the younger generation. However, as the over 40s require less calories than the under 40s** this could be the key to their youthfulness.

Interestingly, people of all ages who feel younger than their real age are more likely to feel most energetic in the morning, while those who experience a peak in energy levels in the afternoon are more likely to feel older than their actual age.

Shaun Matisonn, CEO, PruHealth, said: “While it’s wonderful to see that the older we get, the better we feel, the energy levels of those under 40 clearly needs more attention. This age group need to get more exercise – and more sleep – eat healthily and follow more active lifestyles to help boost their energy levels.

“Finding time in your 30s to exercise and eat healthily can be especially difficult while you’re juggling a career and looking after a young family, but incorporating small steps in your daily routine, such as getting off the bus a stop early and snacking on fruit rather than crisps, can help make all the difference.”

The information contained in Prudential UK’s press releases is intended solely for journalists and should not be used by consumers to make financial decisions.  Full consumer product information can be found at www.pruhealth.co.uk.

Notes to Editors:

*The research was carried out on behalf of PruHealth, the insurer that rewards policyholders for engaging in healthy behaviour, by Opinium Research LLP with an online poll of 2,004 British adults from Friday 14 to Tuesday 18 August 2009. Results have been weighted to nationally representative criteria.

** The NHS advises that older people may need to eat less than they used to if they are not as active. Direct Gov states a major reason for age-related weight gain is the slowdown of metabolic rates. For example, people in their 50s and 60s will need fewer calories than they did in their 30s.

Media enquiries

About PruHealth

PruHealth was launched in October 2004 as a joint venture between Prudential and Discovery Holdings from South Africa. Since launch, PruHealth has grown quickly. It now covers over 210,000 lives and in a sample of its individual customers, one third said they had changed their behaviour for the better because of its Vitality reward scheme which encourages policyholders to look after their health.