According to the Office for National Statistics , almost one in 10 of young adults regularly feel lonely – the highest proportion of any age group and far higher than the elderly, who, ONS say, could become "more resilient to loneliness" in their old age. The mental and physical health risks of loneliness in any age group have been known and written about for a while, with studies deeming it more dangerous to health than smoking and obesity and calls for it to be named a public health hazard.