Why old people's illnesses are soaring in youngsters - from type 2 diabetes and arthritis to early menopause and even strokes By India Sturgis Published: 12:00, 27 May 2024 | Updated: 12:42, 27 May 2024 e-mail 35 View comments Type 2 diabetes , arthritis, stroke - these are all serious health conditions normally associated with getting older. But, disturbingly, these and other illnesses once considered the sole domain of older adults are increasingly being diagnosed in younger people. New figures released this week by the charity Diabetes UK show that cases of type 2 diabetes among under-40s have increased to almost 168,000 from 120,000 in 2016/17 .
This follows a previous report from the charity in 2022, which found that the number of children under 18 receiving treatment for type 2 diabetes in England and Wales in 2020/21 was 50 per cent up on five years earlier. Cancer cases in young adults are rising, too: the number of 25 to 49-year-olds diagnosed jumped 22 per cent between the early 1990s and 2018 - more than twice the 9 per cent increase in over-75s, according to Cancer Research UK. Experts say that type 2 diabetes is rising in young people as many children are consuming more than the recommended amount of sugar, salt and saturated fat - and not doing enough physical activity The reasons why ‘old age’ conditions are on the rise among younger people are complex but lifestyle factors including obesity, lack of exercise and poor sleep all play a role.
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