Sept. 5, 2008

Washington Post

It Gets Better

It may be time to drop the stereotype of the older worker as unhealthy or slowing down. Workers in their 50s and 60s are more likely to exercise and eat healthy foods than their younger colleagues, a new report by ComPsych indicates.

In a survey of workers at companies that use ComPsych’s wellness and employee-assistance programs, the firm found that people in their 50s and 60s said they choose healthy, balanced diets much more often than those in their 30s said they do. The older workers also were much more likely to say they exercise regularly.

In their self-assessments, the workers in their 30s admitted to skipping many of these healthy moves. “Workers in their 30s may be at peak productivity, but also at greatest risk for neglecting their health and developing long-term health problems due to poor lifestyle choices,” Richard A. Chaifetz, ComPsych’s chief executive.