In this article: Online Bonus Read more about Somers' experience on "Three's Company" and her memories of "American Graffiti" Boomer health A top doc assesses her generation

Forever Young Healthy living

Forever Young by Suzanne Somers

How her generation will be an influence for decades to come

I'm convinced that members of this generation have accomplished so much because we've learned how to talk to each other.

This week, we shine a spotlight on Americans who are now well into the second half of their lives, in what will be a continuing series on living a full life no matter how old you are. We've chosen cover girl Suzanne Somers as the face and voice for this generation, commonly known as the Baby Boomers -- those born between 1946 and 1964. You might remember Somers as the "blonde in the T-Bird" in "American Graffiti" ("Where were you in '62?" was the movie poster line). Her hit TV sitcom, "Three's Company," depicted the lives of three attractive singles in the 1970s and '80s. She's now a successful businesswoman and an author of books on such topics as health, personal wellness and beauty. Exclusively for USA WEEKEND, Somers explains how her generation will be an influence for decades to come:

My generation should be celebrated. Although none is perfect, mine helped bring this country to new levels of social progress, scientific discovery, medical advancements and economic success. We're constantly discovering new ways to eat right, exercise and live well. And today, many are redefining what retirement means -- no rocking chairs and knitting needles are needed. Members of my generation are keeping on the move with hiking, biking and endless other forms of physical activity well into their golden years.

As USA WEEKEND kicks off a series of articles that capture our uniqueness, I'm amazed at the changes we've seen. This week, the Today show's Nancy Snyderman talks about how members of this generation have dealt with personal health issues and how their approach has contrasted with that of their parents. In the coming weeks, you'll be hearing from other leading voices on the topics of money, travel, food and beauty.

I'm convinced that we've accomplished so much because we've learned how to talk to one another. Our parents didn't speak about their feelings. They were taught to "suck it up" when feeling badly or depressed. They also didn't share much with each other about exercise and proper nutrition. But we were the first generation to open up about these things. Take fitness, for example. When I was doing "Three's Company," Jane Fonda got the whole country talking about the benefits of aerobics, and many of us put on our leotards and worked out together, giving each other the strength and incentive to keep exercising. Now this kind of encouragement is frequently being passed on from parents to their children and grandchildren.

More discussion is needed, of course, because about one-third of adults are obese. Unfortunately, too many children are falling into the same pattern -- 17% of young people from ages 2 to 19 are overweight. So there's never been a more critical time to get up off the couch and get moving -- and take the kids and grandkids with you.

Much of the obesity problem stems from the way we eat. Heck, we grew up on TV dinners. We loved to peel away that tinfoil and take a big whiff of the steamy meatloaf, gravy and mashed potatoes inside. (And don't forget about the cherry cobbler!) We didn't understand that TV dinners as well as some of the meals and treats that our moms cooked for us were created by using potentially harmful processed foods.

Nor did we realize that we could do so much better by growing our own food or buying local, natural foods. Good food is about more than stuff that tastes good. It's about killing disease-causing free radicals in the body. It's about nutrition that leads to healthy skin, strong nails and a youthful complexion. We don't need processed fried-chicken dinners -- not when a delicious, roasted bird with rosemary, thyme and turmeric (rich in healthful antioxidants) can be prepared instead.

Fortunately, more and more organic and locally produced fruits, vegetables and meats are available at the supermarket because we've demanded these choices.

The ability to relate to each other not only has helped to improve our diet, but it also has made our lives richer. More life partners nurture each other. We discuss our dreams now more than ever.

And, let's face it, money is a big part of those dreams. I'm not talking about money in a crass sense -- the desire to relentlessly consume. I'm talking about the peace of mind that comes with financial security. My husband and I can tell our kids that they'll never have to support us. Even after having success with "Three's Company" and my books, we lived well below our means and invested. We're teaching our children how to take care of themselves, too.

Today, with the housing and credit crises as well as the lack of pension plans, some members of my generation realize they need to take control of their own futures. But too many others don't, as the median net worth for families headed by those between the ages of 45 and 54 is just under $145,000 -- not bad for a 20- or 30-something, but hardly enough for most to retire on. More of us need to step up now and grow our savings.

So enjoy USA WEEKEND's series on the state of my generation. This is an exciting opportunity to take a moment and reflect on some of the wonderful milestones that we've reached together -- and all of the milestones that are still ahead of us.

Suzanne Somers' latest book is "Breakthrough: Eight Steps to Wellness."

Cover photograph of Suzanne Somers by Jeff Katz

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Forever Young

A top doc assesses her generation

By Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D.

I count my blessings every day that I was born a Baby Boomer. We've been able to lead much healthier lives than our parents' generation and the generations before them, thanks to advancements in the research and treatment of serious diseases.

The most significant breakthrough? I'd say it has been vaccinations. We were the first generation to get shots for polio and measles. I remember lining up in my elementary school cafeteria and getting a sugar cube as my "reward" for being so brave when I rolled up my sleeve. But getting an injection was a small price to pay to grow up free of worry about such childhood diseases as polio and diphtheria.

Tech and information advances pay off
Our medical technology is so much better. In the old days, patients received massive doses of radiation just to get a grainy chest X-ray, in search of a lump or signs of tuberculosis. Today, medical imaging is amazing. We can see the retinas of a fetus in the womb. We can see the inner linings of vessels of the heart. It's so precise, and it's helping save lives.

Getting regular exercise is part of taking an active role in your health.

As much as I love technology, I've always believed our foremost goal should be to live such healthful lives that we don't need intensive screenings to find out if our bodies are sound. For certain, we're exercising more and more. We're also taking more ownership of our health "blueprint," thanks to the Internet, where so much information about diseases, symptoms and remedies is available. My mother's generation didn't have this information. It's great that people are taking an active role in "diagnosing" themselves -- as long as they do so in collaboration with their doctor and don't use the Web as a substitute for a medical consultation. There's also a danger of too many sites with bad information. But I think sites such as those run by Johns Hopkins University, the Mayo Clinic, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are very useful.

Eating and food distribution dilemmas
Not all the developments during our lifetime have been positive, however. We are a processed-food generation, putting so many fats and preservatives into our bodies. Our grandparents bought their produce from local farmers or grew their own. That's no longer the case. We don't know where most of the fruits and vegetables we eat come from, especially if they come processed in packages. That's why recent outbreaks of salmonella are so frightening -- not just because of the health concerns, but also the fact that it took so long to find the source because food distribution is so far-flung.

As Suzanne Somers notes here, we're already seeing a push for organic foods and produce from local farms. This can only make us healthier -- a legacy of which the Baby Boomer generation can be proud.

Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D., is chief medical editor for NBC News and the author of "Medical Myths That Can Kill You -- and the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend and Improve Your Life."

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Online Bonus: Somers remembers her experiences on "Three's Company" and "American Graffiti"

The legacy of "American Graffiti":
"I wish I was smart enough back then to know it would be this iconic. All of us, except Ron Howard, were virtually unknown actors. George Lucas was the shyest man for a director. He'd sit in a corner and not say anything. Then, one day, he walks into a trailer where we were. He brings Francis Ford Coppola with him, and says, 'This will be a groundbreaking and iconic film.' I was saying to myself, 'I don't think so.'

"We all got together in 2000 for a photo shoot for Vanity Fair . It was nice. I looked around and realized how much power was on that set. Back then, Harrison Ford was a few years from being a star. Ron, of course, was known, but it's not like we knew he'd become this great director. Richard Dreyfuss was this very 'everyman' kind of actor. We just didn't know how special what we'd do together would become, until long after it was created."

Her star-making turns on "The Tonight Show":
"I was still trying to break in after 'American Graffiti." I did so many TV pilots that went nowhere. I saw in the trades that they needed a naive, small town girl for a Dom DeLuise sitcom, so I gathered $32 to get to Los Angeles. I got into the TV studio and read for the part, and they liked me enough to ask me to come back later that afternoon. I killed time by having lunch there, and Johnny Carson walked into the cafeteria. He noticed me and asked me what I was doing there. I had no idea why he'd notice me. I got flustered and blurted out that I was an author and had written a book of poetry, which I had. He told me he'd like to see it. Later that week, I mailed him a copy on a Wednesday and he had me booked for "Tonight" on the following Friday! I spent every last cent I had on a dress. When he introduced me, he said told the audience that it was a great mystery as to who the blonde in the T-bird in 'American Graffiti' was, and now he was going to reveal the big secret. And that was my introduction! That's when I realized how big this film was getting. Anyway, Johnny was wonderful for my career. He had me back about once a month, just to read my poetry."

On her final conversation with John Ritter of "Three's Company":
"I left the show, clearly, in a cloud of controversy. But I knew what John was making, and I didn't think it was fair that I was making so much less. I was looking to help level the playing field between male and female stars in this industry. Obviously, it didn't go well and there were bad feelings upon my departure.

"Well, about a month before he died, John actually tracked me down where I was getting my hair done. I mean, I literally was getting a shampoo when he called the salon. We hadn't spoken for all of these years. When they told me John was on the phone, I said, 'Yeah, right. It has to be a prank.' But it really was him.

"I came to the phone and the first words he said were, 'I forgive you.' Well, that threw me off. I mean, I didn't think I had anything to be forgiven for! But I let that go, because I know it took a lot for him to call and you have to let these things slide. He ask me how I was, and he wanted to know if I'd be interested in doing a dream sequence with Joyce DeWitt on his show, "8 Simple Rules ... for Dating my Teenage Daughter." I thought it was a nice gesture, and I told him that I wanted to do something with him and Joyce, but I didn't want to shortchange "Three's Company" by doing something that small. I told John that I'd love to work on a bigger reunion project, and he agreed, and we ended the conversation by promising to think of something good to do. Shortly after, he was gone.

"I always thought that, somehow, we have an inner sense telling us when we should do these things, to make peace with someone whom you haven't spoken to in years. I think that's what happened then, that he felt a calling to reach out to me, even if he didn't fully understand why it was important for him to do that right there and then."