b'AGING IN THE 21ST CENTURYRehkoph et al. (2011) also estimate unusedFIGURE 1-4Trends in obesity prevalence by gender: 1998-2012capacity for work at older ages. They construct fourSource: HRS 1998-2014.categories: working, not working with a major im-pairment, not working with a minor impairment, 35%and not working with no impairment. Major im-pairment is defined as one or more difficulties with30%activities of daily living (ADLs) or instrumental25%activities of daily living (IADLs) and minor impair-ment as inability to do at least one of these activ- 20%ities: walk several blocks, climb a flight of stairs,15%sit for two hours, and stoop, kneel, or crouch. Over10%30% of men and over 35% of women older than 65 are not working but have no physical impairment.5%Fifty percent of men aged 70 to 74 are not working0%and have either one or no limitations. For women1998 2000 2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 2012aged 70 to 74, the proportion with potential workMen Womencapacity is nearly 60%.Comparing the AHEAD, Children of thebody mass index (BMI) greater than 29, for menWhile the majority of men and women in Depression, HRS, and War Baby cohorts, Gordoand women over the period 1998 to 2012.their 50s and early 60s are in good health with (2011) finds successively lower rates of disabilityWeir (2007) compares younger and olderno work-limiting disability, the percentage that at similar ages across these birth cohorts. Otherbirth cohorts and finds that obesity increasedexperience poor health and work limitations is evidence suggests that this trend may not beby 7% for men and nearly 10% for women insignificant. Figure 1-5 shows that of those who continuing in later birth cohorts. Early Babythe Early Baby Boomer cohort compared to theretired between 2012 and 2014, 22% cite poor Boomers perceive their health as slightly worseoriginal HRS cohort. Smoking decreased, whichhealth as a very important reason for retiring.than the two earlier cohorts. Declines in physicalis reflected in the lower rates of lung conditions.The next section reviews some of what HRS limitations through the 1980s and 1990s appearBut conditions associated with overweight, suchtells us about health and physical functioning at to have slowed since 2000 (Freedman et al.as diabetes and arthritis, are on the rise. In aolder ages that may be especially relevant for the 2013). Between 2000 and 2008, those aged 55 similar analysis, Soldo et al. (2007) finds thatquestion of how long we can work.to 64 report a slight increase in physical limita- Early Baby Boomers report more difficulty with tions with no change for adults aged 65 to 74 andeveryday tasks as well as more pain, more chronicChronic Disease and Disability75 to 84. However, the oldest-oldage 85 andconditions, more alcohol use and depressionPhysical functioning decreases as we age, and a olderare making gains. than the original HRS cohort at comparable ages.range of issues can put people at higher risk of Health behaviors and related health condi- Of course, the life history of younger cohorts isdecline. Diseases like arthritis may lower the age tions may help explain some of the flattening ofyet to come, and some evidence suggests thatat which limitations begin. Covinsky et al. (2008) progress in reducing disability. Figure 1-4 showsimprovements in medical treatment may improvestudy the onset over 10 years of persistent phys-the increasing prevalence of obesity, defined as athe health status of younger cohorts as they ageical limitations in the original HRS cohort. They (Weir 2007). select participants with no physical limitations 26'