Adults are continually bombarded with messages about how eating foods rich in cholesterol can elevate an individual's risks of atherosclerosis and heart attacks. Many such warnings have focused on eggs because their yolks are a major dietary source of cholesterol.
The vast majority of Americans are in debt, according to a report from Pew Charitable Trusts published in July. For the most part, that debt comes from what many people would call a good thing â homeownership. Of the 80% of Americans with debt, 44% have mortgage debt. Overall, the median debt load among Americans is $67,900, overwhelmingly driven by mortgages (the median home loan balance is $103,000).
Baby boomers are increasingly entering their retirement years with debt. The share of adults age 65 and older with debt increased from 30 percent in 1998 to 44 percent in 2012, according to Health and Retirement Study data. Many older adults (24 percent) continue to make mortgage payments in retirement, up from 16 percent in 1998.