Healthy Living and Aging Facts

	Americans 50 years of age and older control 77% of the country's financial assets.
	Each day in the United States, 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 50 years of age.
	The over 50 population in the U.S. will increase from one quarter to more than one third by 2012.
	The over 50 demographic accounts for 54%of total consumer demand.
	The over 50 demographic accounts for 45% of all health care spending.
	The over 50 demographic accounts for 74% of all prescription drug purchases.
	The over 50 demographic accounts for 71% of all over the counter drug purchases.
	Baby Boomers spend more than any other age group on travel, recreation and personal care products.
	Over the next 10 years, population growth will be driven by a decrease in mortality not an increase in birth rate.
	Eighty percent of Baby Boomers expect to work after retirement age.
	In the next 25 years, there will be over one million centenarians in the U.S
	It is now accepted that the maximum life span may be closer to 120 years.
	Three of every five consumers take supplements on a regular basis.
	One hundred million adults have the need to reduce cholesterol.
	Over 75% of consumers stated that they are concerned about reducing heart disease and cholesterol and 90% would prefer a natural approach using foods and a dietary supplements versus prescription drugs.
	Six in 10 Americans take supplements on a regular basis, 46% take multiple vitamins on a daily basis and 35% take single vitamins like vitamin C.
	72% of Americans who take supplements take them to feel better.
	67% of Americans who take supplements take them to prevent getting sick.
	51% of Americans who take supplements take them to help them get better when they are sick.
	50% of Americans who take supplements take them to live longer.
	37% of Americans who take supplements take them to build strength and muscle.
	12% of Americans who take supplements take them for weight management.
	Seventy-four million Americans self treat before seeing a physician.
	Eighty-three percent of all U.S. households purchase some form of nutritional supplements.
	Ninety million adult Americans use alternative medicine.
	In 2003, 8.7 million procedures were performed by plastic surgeons on people who wanted to manage the signs of aging.
	Botox was the number one cosmetic procedure performed with 2.8 million procedures, up 157% from 2002.
	Women make up 86% of all cosmetic procedures.
	45% of all cosmetic procedures were performed for people 35 - 50 years old.
	It is recommended to consume 30 grams of fiber on a daily basis but the average American consumes less than 10 grams.
	Joint pain arising from inflammation affects 80 million Americans.
	Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are the number one and two causes of death for men and women in the United States.
	More than 64 million Americans struggle with some form of CVD - 39 million are under the age of 65.
	The estimated cost of CVD and stroke in the U.S. for 2004 is just over $368 billion.