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Smoking, Drinking, and Inactivity Found to Harm Health by Age 36

A Finnish study reveals that unhealthy habits begin to impact mental and physical well-being earlier than previously thought, with effects persisting through later life.

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Habits such as smoking and inactivity lead to cumulative damage later in life

Overview

  • The longitudinal study, published in the Annals of Medicine, tracked 326 individuals born in 1959, assessing health at ages 27, 36, 42, 50, and 61.
  • Researchers found that smoking, heavy drinking, and lack of exercise were linked to measurable declines in health by age 36, earlier than the midlife focus of past studies.
  • Smoking was primarily associated with mental health issues, inactivity with physical health problems, and heavy drinking with declines in both domains.
  • Long-term engagement in these habits led to compounded negative effects, including higher rates of depression, metabolic risks, and poorer self-rated health.
  • Experts emphasize the importance of early intervention but stress that adopting healthier habits in midlife can still yield significant benefits for later years.