To choose my variables, I have examined current research on health and illness. A few variables have proved to be significant predictors of health numerous times. The most obvious variable researchers study, as a predictor of health, is age. As expected, both death rates and poor health rise with age. Although many chronic illnesses are not a direct result of aging, their rates generally increase with age.
Some researchers suggest the theory of compressing morbidity into a smaller time frame in old age.
In other words, in our society, we have attempted to limit serious illness into a smaller amount of time in old age by the use of Western medicine. Age is typically used as a constant and identifying factor in health analysis. Gender is perhaps one of the most widely used independent variables related to health. This over-generalization in research has created a fascination with the subject. In the past, many have strongly correlated gender to health.