This is a survey to see if you have it in you to become a Centenarian (a person that is 100 or more years old). Not many people do. With 400,000 people at the age of 100 or more, and there being 6.8 billion people on the planet, that’s 1 in 17,000 people are over 99 years old! So if you break it down in your chances of actually living to be that age, it could be a little more or a little less than the 0.000058% you see here. What the actual number of people living are (world wide) is 34.7 out of 100,000; in other words you have a 0.000347% chance. If you can’t tell already, not many of us are going to be making it. So if you plan on living to 100, you better have it right.
There is a theorem out there that states living to be over 90 years old is 50% genetics (the part you can’t change), 25% science (what you eat, how you exercise, etc) and 25% determination/attitude (the happier you are, the better off you are).
The following survey is based off of statistics, both on death rates, and studies of those that are in fact 100 years or older, and interviews with several people over 90 years old; Many of them where quoted saying “don’t let the little things bother you” and “be active.”
So in order to see what kind of chance you have at living to be 100, you’ll need a piece of paper, and something to right with. This way you can keep score along the way. You’re starting number is based upon when you where born, your ethnicity, and your gender. For anyone other than blacks and whites in the United States I don’t know what to tell you. Haha. Hispanic and Asian ethnicity usually is a few years under Whites, as the Blacks. I also know that for native Americans life expectancy has changed the least amount over the last 50 years.
Anyway, as you go down and read the questions simply add or subtract the number of years given at the end of each question. You will do one of 3 things: add, subtract, or stay the same; depending on how you answer. If you have a chance to add by giving a yes answer, but you say no, then you stay the same. If you have a chance of subtracting by saying yes, but you say no, you again stay the same. Only change your number if your answer is the answer that requires you to change. For example the first question only allows you to add 5 years if you say yes. If you say no or don’t know the answer then you stay the same.
Since I was born in 1986, and am a White Male, I will start at age 74. Since only 1 of my grandparents (not including greats!) lived to be beyond 80, then answer for me is NO. So I stay at 74 and move on to the next question…so on and so forth until the end. There you will have a good depiction of your chance to live to be 100, as of right now. Who knows, maybe you’ll move to the country, or move to a city, or get shot at age 50 in which case this survey doesn’t matter.
Good luck!
*if you don't know your body fat you can go to this site which i found to be the most accurate (within 2%).
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html
Starting number:
White Male born in United States before 1960 = 72 Black Male 69
White Male born in United States before 1990 = 74 Black Male 71
White Female born in United States before 1960 = 78 Black Female 75
White Female born in United States before 1990 = 80 Black Female 78
Due to the rise with many health issues, ranging from lung problems to obesity, for the first time the new generation has a lower expectancy from the previous. Therefore if you where born after 2003, you lose a year from the “born before 1990” generation. If you where born from 1991-2002 you stay the same as the “born before 1990” generation.
Female’s only Males only
Family History
1. Did 2 or more of your grandparents and/or parents live to or beyond 80years? (yes +5)
2. Did any parent, grandparent, or sibling die of heart problems or stroke
before age 50? (yes -4)
3. Did any parent, grandparent, or sibling die of heart problems or stroke
before age 60? (yes -2)
4. Among your parents and grandparents; did any suffer from a type of cancer,
or disease such as diabetes, thyroid disorder, asthma, or chronic bronchitis? (yes -3 for each case)
Marital Status
5. Are you married? (yes +4)
6. Are you completely happy with whom you are married to? (yes +2)
7. Did you have a child (suffering no permanent problems) after age 35? (yes +2)
8. Did you have a child (suffering no permanent problems) after age 40? (yes +2)
9. Are you sexually active at least once a week (with the same partner) (yes +2)
10. Are you over 25 years of age and unmarried? (yes -1 & for each decadeunmarried)
Economic Status
11. Is your family income over $60,000 per year? (yes +2)
12. Have you been poor for the greater part of your life? (yes -3)
Physique / Exercise
13. *Are you over weight (female=30% body fat, male=25% body fat) (yes -1 & for every 2%)
14. Is your stomach measurement greater than your chest measurement? (yes -2 for every inch)
15. Are you over 40 years of age and not overweight? (yes +3)
16. Do you exercise regularly and moderately (ex: Jog 3 times a week for
20min each time; lift weights 3 times a week for 20min each time, or walk) (yes +3)
17. Do you exercise regularly and vigorously (exam. Jog 3 times a week for
45min each time; lift weights 3 times a week for 45min each time; go for walks,
sweat a lot and reach a strong heart rate) (yes +5)
18. Is your job active (farmer, construction, teaching, nurse, etc.) (yes +3)
Alcohol
19. Do have 1 drink of alcohol a day 3 times a week or less? (yes +1)
20. Are you a heavy drinker? Drink more than 4 drinks at a sitting? (yes -3)
21. Do you drink on average more than the equivalent of 8 beers a week? (yes -5 to -10 [subtract 5, and then subtract 1 for ever 2 beers over 8 per week, max is subtracting 10 aka 18 beers or more in a week)
22. Are you a none drinker? (yes +2)
Smoking
If you answer yes to #23, ignore #'s 24 and 25, if you answer yes to #24, ignore #25
23. Do you smoke or have you smoked 2 or more packs a day for over a year? (yes -6)
24. Do you smoke or have you smoked 1 to 2 packs a day for over a year? (yes -3)
25. Do you smoke or have you smoked 1 pack per day or less for over a year? (yes -2)
26. Do you or have you regularly smoked a pipe or cigars for over a year? (yes -2)
27. In addition (smoking section) for every 5 years you’ve smoked -2
28. Do you live with a smoker, and are in the same room/area as them when they
smoke, at least once a day? (yes -1)
Disposition
29. Are you a reasoned practical person (or people think of you this way)? (yes +2)
30. Are you aggressive, intense, or competitive (or are thought of this way)? (yes -2)
31. Are you basically happy and content with life? Scale 1-5
(1 a little, 2 sometimes, 3 about half the time, 4 for the most part, 5 completely) (yes +1 to +5)
32. How often are you feeling unhappy, worried, or guilty? Scale 1-5
(1 seldom, 2 off and on, 3 about half the time, for the most part, 5 almost always) (yes -1 to -5)
Health Care
33. Do you have regular medical checkups and dental care? (twice a year or more) (yes +3)
34. Are you frequently ill or have suffered from a severe illness such as:
Malaria, Lyme Disease, a stroke, a heart attack, hepatitis, herpes, scarlet fever, cancer, etc. (yes -2 for each)
35. Do you suffer from a Childhood or Long Lasting illness such as:
Asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, Psoriasis, Autism, etc. ( yes -3 for each)
36. Do you eat plentiful servings of fruit and vegetables (one or more a day)?
Or take vitamins (including a B vitamin) 3 times a week or more? (yes +3)
37. Do you drink 5 to 10, 8oz glasses of water per day? (yes +1)
38. Do you drink 1 or more 8oz glasses of milk per day or take a calcium +D
vitamin at least twice a week? (yes +1)
39. Do you eat meat, eggs, and/or dairy light (less than 4 servings a weak)? (yes +1)
40. Do you eat meat, eggs, and/or dairy heavily (more than 4 servings a weak)? (yes -1)
41. Do you drink a beverage high in caffeine more than 4 times a week? (yes -1)
42. Do you drink a beverage high in caffeine once a day or more? (yes -1)
Education
43. Do you have a high school education? (no -2)
44. Have you attended 4 years of schooling beyond high school? (yes +1)
45. Have you attended 5 years or more schooling beyond high school? (yes +3)
Environment
46. Have you lived most of your life in a rural setting (outside city limits)? (yes +4)
47. Have you lived most of your life in an urban setting (within city limits)? (yes -2)
48. Do you work with harmful chemicals or radiation? (yes -2)
49. Do you wear sunscreen/moisturizer when you’re going to be in the sun
for more than 20min at a time? (yes +1)
Sleep / Temperature
50. Do you sleep more than 9 hours a day on average? (yes -5)
51. Do you sleep less than 7 hours a day on average? (yes -5)
52. Is your home’s thermostat set no more than 72°F most of the year? (yes +1)
53. Is your home’s thermostat set no more than 68°F most of the year? (yes +2)
That's the survey. I hoped you had fun. Again this is not 100% correct, obviously. There really isn't a way to be fully sure. Environmental issues and the actions of others can't be controlled enough to ever determine your true chances of survival. But based mostly on what you yourself can control, this survey should give a good idea as to where you stand on longevity.
Fun fact: If you live in one of these 5 states, you have a greater chance of living to be 65 years old or better, these are the states and the chance you have of living to be 65 if born in them:
Florida 18.1%, West Virginia 15.6%, Pennsylvania 15.6%, Iowa 15.2%, North Dakota 15%
There is a theorem out there that states living to be over 90 years old is 50% genetics (the part you can’t change), 25% science (what you eat, how you exercise, etc) and 25% determination/attitude (the happier you are, the better off you are).
The following survey is based off of statistics, both on death rates, and studies of those that are in fact 100 years or older, and interviews with several people over 90 years old; Many of them where quoted saying “don’t let the little things bother you” and “be active.”
So in order to see what kind of chance you have at living to be 100, you’ll need a piece of paper, and something to right with. This way you can keep score along the way. You’re starting number is based upon when you where born, your ethnicity, and your gender. For anyone other than blacks and whites in the United States I don’t know what to tell you. Haha. Hispanic and Asian ethnicity usually is a few years under Whites, as the Blacks. I also know that for native Americans life expectancy has changed the least amount over the last 50 years.
Anyway, as you go down and read the questions simply add or subtract the number of years given at the end of each question. You will do one of 3 things: add, subtract, or stay the same; depending on how you answer. If you have a chance to add by giving a yes answer, but you say no, then you stay the same. If you have a chance of subtracting by saying yes, but you say no, you again stay the same. Only change your number if your answer is the answer that requires you to change. For example the first question only allows you to add 5 years if you say yes. If you say no or don’t know the answer then you stay the same.
Since I was born in 1986, and am a White Male, I will start at age 74. Since only 1 of my grandparents (not including greats!) lived to be beyond 80, then answer for me is NO. So I stay at 74 and move on to the next question…so on and so forth until the end. There you will have a good depiction of your chance to live to be 100, as of right now. Who knows, maybe you’ll move to the country, or move to a city, or get shot at age 50 in which case this survey doesn’t matter.
Good luck!
*if you don't know your body fat you can go to this site which i found to be the most accurate (within 2%).
http://www.healthcentral.com/cholesterol/home-body-fat-test-2774-143.html
Starting number:
White Male born in United States before 1960 = 72 Black Male 69
White Male born in United States before 1990 = 74 Black Male 71
White Female born in United States before 1960 = 78 Black Female 75
White Female born in United States before 1990 = 80 Black Female 78
Due to the rise with many health issues, ranging from lung problems to obesity, for the first time the new generation has a lower expectancy from the previous. Therefore if you where born after 2003, you lose a year from the “born before 1990” generation. If you where born from 1991-2002 you stay the same as the “born before 1990” generation.
Female’s only Males only
Family History
1. Did 2 or more of your grandparents and/or parents live to or beyond 80years? (yes +5)
2. Did any parent, grandparent, or sibling die of heart problems or stroke
before age 50? (yes -4)
3. Did any parent, grandparent, or sibling die of heart problems or stroke
before age 60? (yes -2)
4. Among your parents and grandparents; did any suffer from a type of cancer,
or disease such as diabetes, thyroid disorder, asthma, or chronic bronchitis? (yes -3 for each case)
Marital Status
5. Are you married? (yes +4)
6. Are you completely happy with whom you are married to? (yes +2)
7. Did you have a child (suffering no permanent problems) after age 35? (yes +2)
8. Did you have a child (suffering no permanent problems) after age 40? (yes +2)
9. Are you sexually active at least once a week (with the same partner) (yes +2)
10. Are you over 25 years of age and unmarried? (yes -1 & for each decadeunmarried)
Economic Status
11. Is your family income over $60,000 per year? (yes +2)
12. Have you been poor for the greater part of your life? (yes -3)
Physique / Exercise
13. *Are you over weight (female=30% body fat, male=25% body fat) (yes -1 & for every 2%)
14. Is your stomach measurement greater than your chest measurement? (yes -2 for every inch)
15. Are you over 40 years of age and not overweight? (yes +3)
16. Do you exercise regularly and moderately (ex: Jog 3 times a week for
20min each time; lift weights 3 times a week for 20min each time, or walk) (yes +3)
17. Do you exercise regularly and vigorously (exam. Jog 3 times a week for
45min each time; lift weights 3 times a week for 45min each time; go for walks,
sweat a lot and reach a strong heart rate) (yes +5)
18. Is your job active (farmer, construction, teaching, nurse, etc.) (yes +3)
Alcohol
19. Do have 1 drink of alcohol a day 3 times a week or less? (yes +1)
20. Are you a heavy drinker? Drink more than 4 drinks at a sitting? (yes -3)
21. Do you drink on average more than the equivalent of 8 beers a week? (yes -5 to -10 [subtract 5, and then subtract 1 for ever 2 beers over 8 per week, max is subtracting 10 aka 18 beers or more in a week)
22. Are you a none drinker? (yes +2)
Smoking
If you answer yes to #23, ignore #'s 24 and 25, if you answer yes to #24, ignore #25
23. Do you smoke or have you smoked 2 or more packs a day for over a year? (yes -6)
24. Do you smoke or have you smoked 1 to 2 packs a day for over a year? (yes -3)
25. Do you smoke or have you smoked 1 pack per day or less for over a year? (yes -2)
26. Do you or have you regularly smoked a pipe or cigars for over a year? (yes -2)
27. In addition (smoking section) for every 5 years you’ve smoked -2
28. Do you live with a smoker, and are in the same room/area as them when they
smoke, at least once a day? (yes -1)
Disposition
29. Are you a reasoned practical person (or people think of you this way)? (yes +2)
30. Are you aggressive, intense, or competitive (or are thought of this way)? (yes -2)
31. Are you basically happy and content with life? Scale 1-5
(1 a little, 2 sometimes, 3 about half the time, 4 for the most part, 5 completely) (yes +1 to +5)
32. How often are you feeling unhappy, worried, or guilty? Scale 1-5
(1 seldom, 2 off and on, 3 about half the time, for the most part, 5 almost always) (yes -1 to -5)
Health Care
33. Do you have regular medical checkups and dental care? (twice a year or more) (yes +3)
34. Are you frequently ill or have suffered from a severe illness such as:
Malaria, Lyme Disease, a stroke, a heart attack, hepatitis, herpes, scarlet fever, cancer, etc. (yes -2 for each)
35. Do you suffer from a Childhood or Long Lasting illness such as:
Asthma, Type 1 Diabetes, Psoriasis, Autism, etc. ( yes -3 for each)
36. Do you eat plentiful servings of fruit and vegetables (one or more a day)?
Or take vitamins (including a B vitamin) 3 times a week or more? (yes +3)
37. Do you drink 5 to 10, 8oz glasses of water per day? (yes +1)
38. Do you drink 1 or more 8oz glasses of milk per day or take a calcium +D
vitamin at least twice a week? (yes +1)
39. Do you eat meat, eggs, and/or dairy light (less than 4 servings a weak)? (yes +1)
40. Do you eat meat, eggs, and/or dairy heavily (more than 4 servings a weak)? (yes -1)
41. Do you drink a beverage high in caffeine more than 4 times a week? (yes -1)
42. Do you drink a beverage high in caffeine once a day or more? (yes -1)
Education
43. Do you have a high school education? (no -2)
44. Have you attended 4 years of schooling beyond high school? (yes +1)
45. Have you attended 5 years or more schooling beyond high school? (yes +3)
Environment
46. Have you lived most of your life in a rural setting (outside city limits)? (yes +4)
47. Have you lived most of your life in an urban setting (within city limits)? (yes -2)
48. Do you work with harmful chemicals or radiation? (yes -2)
49. Do you wear sunscreen/moisturizer when you’re going to be in the sun
for more than 20min at a time? (yes +1)
Sleep / Temperature
50. Do you sleep more than 9 hours a day on average? (yes -5)
51. Do you sleep less than 7 hours a day on average? (yes -5)
52. Is your home’s thermostat set no more than 72°F most of the year? (yes +1)
53. Is your home’s thermostat set no more than 68°F most of the year? (yes +2)
That's the survey. I hoped you had fun. Again this is not 100% correct, obviously. There really isn't a way to be fully sure. Environmental issues and the actions of others can't be controlled enough to ever determine your true chances of survival. But based mostly on what you yourself can control, this survey should give a good idea as to where you stand on longevity.
Fun fact: If you live in one of these 5 states, you have a greater chance of living to be 65 years old or better, these are the states and the chance you have of living to be 65 if born in them:
Florida 18.1%, West Virginia 15.6%, Pennsylvania 15.6%, Iowa 15.2%, North Dakota 15%
RSS Feed