Physical health status at 36 years in a British national birth cohort

In a nationally representative British sample of over 3000 men and women aged 36 years, those in the best or worst of health were identified on the basis of measured blood pressure, lung function and body weight, self reported health problems and disability, and recent hospital admission. Serious illness in earlier life was strongly predictive of current adult health status. Even after adjusting for this and for current social circumstances and health related behaviour, those who came from poorer family backgrounds or were least well educated did not have an equal chance of being in the best of health at 36 years. Living in adverse social circumstances in adult life increased the risk of having the worst health. The analysis suggests that a number of pathways link childhood experiences to adult health and shows the need for a lifetime research perspective on health.