Does health and happiness dip in your 40s? Simple changes to make a difference

By Lisa Salmon

Surely mid-life – a point at which we’ve found success, be it personally or professionally, and figured out what we need – should be a time of contentment?

A recent study by researchers at Dartmouth College in the US, however, found happiness tends to dip to a lifetime low in our late-40s. The research, which looked at 15 fundamental measures of health and wellbeing – including fatigue, sadness, tension, anxiety, depression and sleeplessness – in people from all over the world, revealed a U-shaped ‘happiness curve’ which bottomed out from age 41-48.

“In midlife, the alarming fact is that despite what professional, material or personal success you’ve achieved after years of effort and dedication, as well as the miracle of kids for many and/or a wide social network, research shows happiness dips to a lifetime low,” says Dr Marc Bubbs, a performance nutritionist who works with professional and Olympic athletes and has just written new book Peak 40: The New Science Of Mid-Life Health.

Bubbs says this dip can bring significant adverse effects for our mental and physical health too. “It doesn’t have to be this way,” he adds. “Rather than drifting toward low energy, weight gain, joint pain and the like in your mid-30s and beyond, you can take action. Small changes, done consistently over time, are the secret to success.”

So, what sort of small changes are we talking?

 

Get better sleep

Bubbs says the average person only gets six-and-a-half hours sleep per night, and 30 per cent of people get less than six hours, even though seven to nine hours nightly are recommended.

“Insufficient sleep makes it more difficult to disengage from negative thoughts, lowers mood, kills your libido, and sparks excessive inflammation,” warns Bubbs. “Recovery, better energy and libido, and more effervescent mood starts with sleep. Aim for at least seven hours nightly, and consider adding short 20-minute power naps around midday, or on weekends, to refresh your mind and combat stress.”

 

Start with breakfast

Although getting your day off to a good start with the right breakfast can make a huge difference to how you feel and perform, most common breakfast foods – like juice, cereal, bread, etc – come in boxes and bags and are ultra-processed, calorie-dense and nutrient-poor, says Bubbs.

Breakfast is also the meal where we often consume the least protein, which is a problem for energy, focus and overall health, he adds. To reboot your breakfast, Bubbs suggests aiming for at least 20g of protein from eggs (or tofu scramble for vegans), yoghurt, milk (dairy or soy), or protein powder in a morning smoothie.

 

No late-night snacking on weekdays

It’s all too easy to grab a sweet snack at the end of a long, busy day, but Bubbs says: “All that snacking before bed is a key reason why you may be struggling with weight gain or poor health in mid-life.”

He says more than 40 per cent of the calories we consume are eaten or drunk after 6pm, and they’re a “major roadblock” to a slimmer waistline, deeper sleep and recovery.

 

Power up your protein

While protein is important for maintaining muscle, what often gets missed, says Bubbs, is that protein intake also correlates strongly with overall health and longevity. “People consuming a higher amount of protein see a parallel increase in their vitamin and mineral intake,” he explains. “It supports lean muscle, which is a strong marker of healthy ageing, and builds everything in your body from immune cells to hair, skin and nails, etc.”

It’s “highly unlikely” you can eat too much protein, he says. “Centre your meals around protein and you’ll be amazed at the benefits.”

 

Movement is medicine

Bubbs points out that by middle-age, studies suggest a third of middle-aged adults don’t do any physical activity at all. “Exercise is a powerful tool for igniting better health, lifting your mood, building muscle and shedding body fat – especially in mid-life,” he says.

If you don’t exercise already, he suggests starting with gentle movement like yoga or tai chi, and building up to resistance training and/or aerobic exercise, perhaps starting with walking or cycling and eventually progressing to running or HIIT workouts. “No drug in the world can do what movement can for your health,” Bubbs stresses.

 

Commit to the process

Bubbs points out that change takes time – and most people want overnight results, which just don’t happen. Middle-aged people need to map out a long-term strategy and stick to it, he advises, setting goals six, nine or 12 months ahead, rather than trying to achieve everything quickly. Doing it this way will “dramatically increase your odds of success”, he promises.