Centenarians tend to feel much younger than they actually are.
People over the age of 100 said they felt, on average, about 83 years old, a UnitedHealthcare news release reported.
When asked how they fely about living to see 100, the participants said they felt "'blessed' (36 percent), 'happy' (31 percent) and 'surprised' (12 percent), the news release reported. Twenty-two percent of the participants said they only needed a few more years to accomplish their goals while eight percent said they needed a lot longer.
The majority of the Centenarians said remaining close with family and friends was the key to longevity. Eighty-eight percent said remaining independent was a key health factor as well as eating well (86 percent).
Most of the baby boomers who were interviewed, who were around the age of 65, said they felt about 55.
"They rank maintaining a sense of independence first (87 percent), tied with laughing/having a sense of humor. Staying close to family and friends (84 percent) comes in third for the 65-year-olds," the news release reported.
Both groups also felt maintaining physical health and seeing a doctor regularly were important longevity factors.
The majority of both groups also admitted to walking or hiking at least once a week; one third of those over the age of 100 said they participated in strength exercises at least once a week as well.
"This year's 100@100 survey paints an encouraging and exciting view of longevity in the United States, which is especially significant since the number of centenarians in this country is expected to swell in the coming years," Rhonda Randall, D.O., chief medical officer of UnitedHealthcare Retiree Solutions, said in the news release. "Both centenarians and baby boomers report feeling more youthful than the number of birthdays they've had, which is in part due to the proactive measures they're taking to monitor and improve their health. This is a good reminder for all Americans to take charge of their health now so that they can enjoy life for many years to come."
