I think the idea that young people are naturally so healthy is a misconception

As you get older, into your thirties, you start to get problems.

Obesity, vascular problems, mental problems, tooth problems, eye problems...

whatever. Stuff goes wrong.

And everyone keeps telling you that its just age.

You try to eat better, but its too little too late. You've already done the damage. And as you clutch your heartburn filled chest, you fondly remember the days when you were young and could whatever you wanted without having heartburn.

You idly think... I went thirty years and did and ate whatever I wanted... and was fine. Now I'm falling apart. Must be age.

So, yes. Some of it is age.

But the misconception is that you went your whole life doing whatever you wanted to do.

Imagine if you took a five year old kid and gave him a stressful job, with an evil boss. Give that kid a nagging wife and two babies to take care of. Now... make the kid wake up in the morning to chug a cup of coffee. A pack a day smoking habit. Drinking and drugs on the weekends.

For meals? Too busy working. Fast food. Giant triple meat cheeseburgers from whataburger for dinner. Ice cream for desert. Sodas n fries throughout the day.

Now...

Imagine what that kid is going to look like when he is 21.

He is going to have all the problems you had at thirty.

The thing is that children are kept in cages. We make them eat their greens. We don't let them eat whataburger for dinner every night. We force them to go to bed. We keep them away from severe stress. We take them to the dentist and the doc. We provide emotional support. We dont let them drink or smoke or do drugs. Etc.

Then... they turn 18. They are healthy as a horse. They go off and go nuts in college.

By the time they are thirty they are a train wreck. And its blamed on aging.