Bad habits can age you by 12 years, study suggests

CHICAGO - New research suggests that having 4 common bad habits can age you by 12 years.

The 4 bad habits are smoking, drinking too much, not getting enough physical activity and a poor diet.

The findings highlight yet one more reason to adopt a healthier lifestyle. The study tracked nearly 5,000 British adults for 20 years. Of those with all 4 bad habits, 29 % died. That compares to 8 % of the healthier people who didn’t have those unhealthy behaviors.

The study appears in Monday's Archives of Internal Medicine.