Story perspectives

UK Youth Spend More Years Unhealthy, MPs Call Exercise Prescriptions

5/23/2026

Summary

Story summary

Oxford University and University College London researchers reported that younger UK generations now live more years in poor health.
Their analysis of 51 studies (88,500 people born 1946-2002) found two-thirds of adults overweight or obese, driving earlier chronic disease.
MPs urged GPs to prescribe exercise and improve local infrastructure after the Commons Health and Social Care Committee linked inactivity to £7.4 billion costs and one in six deaths.

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Story summary

Oxford University and University College London researchers reported that younger UK generations now live more years in poor health.
Their analysis of 51 studies (88,500 people born 1946-2002) found two-thirds of adults overweight or obese, driving earlier chronic disease.
MPs urged GPs to prescribe exercise and improve local infrastructure after the Commons Health and Social Care Committee linked inactivity to £7.4 billion costs and one in six deaths.