Buying a sports car may no longer be the tell-tale sign of a midlife crisis. Instead, turning vegan, signing up for a 'Tough Mudder' or training to run a marathon are the new giveaway signs, a poll suggests.
A survey of 3,000 adults, commissioned by Bupa Health Clinics, found turning 40 or 50 pushes many of us into crisis. This prompts many to make GP appointments and changes in diet, with more than half cutting down on alcohol or giving up completely.
For men, becoming a vegan (24 per cent) and signing up to a competitive event (31 per cent) are key signs of a midlife turning point. And six per cent confess they are keen to get fitter because 'I have a younger partner'. Nearly half (47 per cent) of Brits feel considerably older and began worrying about their health after turning 30, 40 or 50, the poll also found.
But women tend to feel the impact sooner than men. Women typically take stock of their health when they reach 30, while men are more likely to make health and lifestyle resolutions at 40. Half of women signed up to a gym or hired a personal trainer in the aftermath of a landmark birthday and 67 per cent adopted a new 'healthy eating plan'.
Cliches of the midlife crisis abound in popular culture, but scientific studies on the subject are divided.
A report published last year claimed to offer definitive proof of the effect in action, demonstrating a significant drop in happiness between the ages of 30 and 50.
Despite the findings, some experts remain convinced that there is no link between hitting a certain age and plummeting levels of life happiness.
The report, based on data of more than a million people and published last August, was led by researchers at the University of Warwick and Dartmouth College.
The new survey comes after a leading psychologist warned last December the male midlife crisis is often made fun of it but it can in fact be a distressing experience.
