More than a third of adults have multiple health problems in midlife and the trend is getting worse, new research suggests.
A study found that 34% of people aged 46 to 48 have two or more long-term health conditions, of which at least one relates to physical health.
Issues include chronic back problems, mental ill-health, high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma and high-risk drinking.
The study, published in the journal BMC Public Health, found that those who grew up in poorer families (defined by the father being unskilled) were 43% more likely to have multiple long-term health problems in their late 40s than those who were wealthier.