Medical experts have warned that adults over 40 years old need to improve their health by taking more exercise and adopting an optimistic attitude toward life.
A health survey carried out in east China's Jiangsu Province shows the health condition is deteriorating among adults, particularly those over 40, who are under constant stress at home and at work.
The survey, which tracked 60,000 citizens aged between three and 69, shows that most adults above 40 report higher blood pressure but lower vital capacity. Their strength in limbs, flexibility of body and overall equilibrium are all declining.
However, the survey also shows that the number of teenage obesity cases has been decreasing in recent years, and most teenagers are growing faster in height than in weight. The average heights of the province's 19-year-olds are 171.9 centimeters for males and 160.4 centimeters for females.
Most people over the age of 55 enjoy relatively good health, as a result of constant exercising, according to the survey.
(Xinhua News Agency January 1, 2002)
