Experts list five health warning signs for middle- aged people

Scientists have put together five warning signs middle- aged people will suffer from frailness in retirement.

Being inactive, obese or a smoker in middle age are the three biggest causes of elderly people being unable to live independently or bounce back after an illness, a UK study found.

High levels of the proteins interleukin 6 and Creactive, which both suggest inflammation in the body, are also signs middleaged people will later suffer from sudden weight loss, muscle weakness or low- activity levels, the research adds.

These proteins rise when people are stressed or eating too much sugar.

Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, which part funded the study, said: ◗ “Frailty is not just an issue for later life and should not be seen as an inevitable part of getting old. This research shows that, by taking steps to ensure we are healthy going in to middle age, we can avoid getting on the path to a frail old age.”

According to a June 2018 study by University College London, middleaged people are at risk of frailness in later life if they are obese: some 7.9 ◗ per cent of obese people become frail compared to 2.7 per cent of those of a healthy weight.

Are inactive: Sedentary people have a 6.2 per cent chance of suffering from sudden weight loss or exhaustion in later life versus 2.5- to- 3.5 per cent of those who are active.

If they smoke: Some 5.4 per cent of smokers become frail compared to 3.5 per cent without the habit.

Have high interleukin 6 levels: This is a marker of inflammation in the body. Those with the highest levels have a four per cent risk of frailness versus one per cent with the lowest

Have high C- reactive protein levels: Also a mark of inflammation, middleaged people with the highest levels have a four per cent chance of being physically weak versus a two per cent risk in those with the lowest amounts.

The researchers, from University College London, analysed 6,223 people aged over 69 to determine their risk of frailty in old age.

The participants’ walking speed, grip strength, weight loss, self reported exhaustion and energy spent on exercise was assessed by the research team.