Baby boomers, or the generation who were born between 1956 and 1964, during the mid-20th century baby boom, or to simplify, people who are now in their late 50s, 60s and 70s are living longer. However, the longevity is coming with worse health conditions than the previous generation at the same age. This is happening despite the advances in medicine and greater awareness of healthy lifestyles.A global study published in the Journal of Gerontology, whose lead author is Laura Gimeno of the University College of London (UCL) found that people in their 50s, 60s, and 70s are more likely to have serious health problems than those who were born before or during the second world war when they reached that age. These conditions are obesity, type 2 diabetes, cancer, heart disease and other diseases which were affecting people at younger ages. The study also found that the rate of illness and disability has also increased in successive generations during the last century.Generational Health DriftLead author Gimeno said that there was a generational health drift, as the younger generations are having worse health than the previous ones at the same age. "Even with advances in medicine and greater public awareness about healthy living, people born since 1945 are at greater risk of chronic illness and disability than their predecessors," he noted. Other FindingsHealth data for more than 10,00,000 people between 2004 and 2018 was analysed, which covered several generations of people aged 50 and above across England, the US and Europe.The analysis revealed increasing rates of chronic disease, especially for those born between 1936 and 1945 and those born between 1955 and 1959. Chronic disease rates have risen across all regions in successive generations with them having cancer, lung disease, heart issues, type 2 diabetes, and high cholesterol. In Europe and in England specifically, the number of heart problems and high cholesterol has risen. This means baby boomers are 1.5 more likely to have these issues than their predecessors at the same age.Along with this muscle strength too is decreasing in the US and England, however in Europe overall, it is either increased or remained constant. Losing muscle strength, it means people in the postwar generations are more likely to struggle with tasks such as bathing, eating or walking short distances and shopping. Commenting on this, Gimeno said, "If life expectancy remains stable or continues to increase, these worrying trends may see younger generations spending more years in poor health and living with disability."