Are you thinking about cutting down a bit? Maybe trying that new app that helps you monitor your alcohol? Perhaps you’re trying to quit that cheeky cigarette you had last night — you know, the one you only have at parties, to be social, after a few glasses of wine?
According to a new report from Finland, that day can’t come too soon. In a peer-reviewed study, published in the Annals of Medicine, it was discovered that bad habits such as heavy drinking, smoking and lack of exercise are associated with declines in health in people as young as 36. The study followed the progress of hundreds of children born in Jyväskylä, Finland, in 1959, collecting data at different stages in their lives.
The results came with various caveats: they were particular to people born in Finland and other western countries in the late 1950s. And future studies would include diet in the research. Nevertheless, the message was a grim one: we should tackle risky health behaviours as early as possible to prevent cumulative damage to both our physical and mental health. It signed off with the cheery consolation that, even if you’ve slightly missed the boat in terms of timings, “adopting healthier habits in mid-life also has benefits for older age.” Well, great.