UNHEALTHY LIFE BEGINS AT 63.. AND GOES ON LONGER

BRITONS are living for almost two decades in poor health after falling ill at 63 on average, researchers say.

People now survive longer while sick as medics combat conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and Alzheimer’s.

Healthy life expectancy at birth is now 63.7 years for women and 63.1 for men, says the Office for National Statistics.

The data for the 2014 to 2016 period shows a slight change from 63.9 and 62.7 years respectively for 2009-11.

The average period spent in ill health in our later years has increased to 19.2 years for women and 16.2 years for men, up from 18.6 and 15.8. Women spend on average the final quarter of their lives in poor health while men are infirm or unwell for the final fifth.

Those in the richest areas live 18 years longer in good health.

Janet Morrison, chief executive of Independent Age, said: “There remain deep-rooted health inequalities across the UK. It is imperative that the reasons are understood and addressed, to ensure that older age is not just about living longer, but having a good quality of life in older age, no matter where in the UK you live.”

Life expectancy is 82.3 years for men and 85.8 years for women, but the rate of increase has slowed, said the ONS.

Dundee Manchester Blaenau Gwent

Manchester

Nottingham Blaenau Gwent

LIMITED CYCLE Wheels come off at 63 on average but regions vary