The midlife bulge : Promoting health in Canada's expanding midlife population

The Midlife Bulge The mission of the Atlantic Health Promotion Research Centre (AHPRC) is to conduct and facilitate health promotion research that informs policy and practice and contributes to the health and well-being of Canadians with a special focus on Atlantic Canada. [...] Rates of stress, inactiv- ity, tobacco use and the number of overweight boomers remain high and are risk factors for the leading causes of death in Canada – cancer and diseases of the circulatory system. [...] The data in the Midlife Profile provide a foundation for considering the determinants of midlife health and for developing health promotion strategies. [...] This docu- ment provides a foundation of knowledge on the midlife population, suggests strategies for planning and initiating programs and policies, and raises questions to consider in order to improve health and well-being in the midlife population. [...] A recent study based on the National Population Health Survey examined some of the factors associated with maintaining good health in midlife and into the senior years *. The study was motivated by the recognition that the number of seniors in the Canadian popu- lation is rapidly increasing, thus making it critical to understand the factors that influence healthy aging.