Trends in health and lifestyle 1. Two thousand years ago, life expectancy was between 20 and 30 years. Now it is between 70 and 80. That's a big difference. We also know that people live about 20 years longer today than 50 years ago. 2. However, experts say some people these days are actually less healthy than people were at the same age. Young people today have more money and can afford to live healthy lives, but a lot of people eat processed food full of salt, sugar and fat. This has caused a big increase in obesity and heart problems. In the past, people ate less, and the food was fresher and more natural. 3. Nowadays, many people spend a lot of time sitting at their desks using a computer, whereas in the past, people worked in more physical jobs that kept them active and fit. Work-related stress is also possibly higher than at the same time 50 years ago. Life gets faster, and computer networks mean that work never stops. 4. Smartphones and the pace of city life mean people work longer hours. When you finished work at 5pm, you went home and relaxed. You didn't sit on a subway train checking emails, texts and Facebook updates on your smartphone. (Adapted from C-21 Smart 11)