That's Fit

All old people may not be happy, but surveys of Americans taken since 1972 say that more than half of black men and women over the age of 80 are very happy. Older white men and women follow close behind. Young people, on the other hand: Not even close.

Only one-third of 18-year-old white men and 28 percent of white women say they are very happy. Young black Americans are even less happy. And Baby Boomers -- born between 1946 and 1964 -- are the least likely to report being happy.

Between 1972 and 2004, happiness trends went like this:

• General levels of happiness did not grow over the years, even though America became a wealthier country.
  
  

• Differences in happiness by gender, race, and education level lessened as people aged.
  
  
• Happiness increased over time, rising to high levels when people were older -- even for folks facing health problems and the deaths of friends and family.

Why are old people so happy? Maybe because so many of them live social lives -- volunteering, attending religious activities, spending time with neighbors -- or maybe because they're able to successfully compare themselves to others and feel pretty fortunate with what they've got. Or maybe we all just assume old people can't be all that happy, when the reality is much different.

Do you wish to one day be old and happy? Check out this AOL Body resource for a few longevity tips.

The 'baby boomer' population may be getting older but they certainly aren't letting it slow them down. In fact, statistics show that boomers are more active than other age groups, joining the gym in record numbers and being assertive with trying new forms of fitness like yoga and boxing. The YMCA has really been catering to the 78 million member boomer crowd too, creating programs and classes that focus less on muscles and physical appearance and more on health and quality of life (something we should all do!).

But as motivated and ambitious as the boomers are, they do have their own set of unique needs and wants. Safety is the biggest issue, as injuries can not only sideline current health efforts but can put a serious kink in the plan for months or even years into the future. Here are some good things tailored just for the boomers out there:

Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School have crunched the numbers, and the results are in: baby boomers are substantially more obese than the generations before them. Experts say that boomers seem to share many of the same habits and traits when it comes to managing their health. For example, according to surveys many baby boomers blame genetics for high blood pressure, think it's already too late to do anything to improve their health, and are even overly optimistic about their health at times.

Doctors stress that it's never too late to start taking care of yourself and improving your health, especially since they often hear boomers say they wish they'd taken better care of themselves when they were younger. One expert suggests choosing one "issue" at a time, and focusing on that before moving on to the next thing.