A third (34 per cent) of young adults, aged 16 to 24 years, suffer from back pain, a new poll suggests.
A poll of Britons by research firm Mintel looked at the rates of back pain across the nation.
Researchers found that young adults experience almost as much back pain as older people, with 38 per cent of over-65s complaining of problems.
Overall, around two-fifths of Britons across all age groups are affected by back pain, which has been linked to high levels of sedentary behaviour.
Mintel spokeswoman Michelle Strutton described the widespread nature of back pain, particularly among young people, as 'pretty alarming'.
She revealed: 'Too much time sitting weakens muscle tone and this can lead to back pain.
'Many of Britain's youngsters lead a sedentary lifestyle and lack of sport may well be contributing to back pain, as well as poor posture.'
Ms Strutton added that back pain is among the nation's top five ailments, which also include colds and flu, headaches, sore throats and coughs.
People with short-term back pain may benefit from taking painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, while an active lifestyle is likely to aid recovery in most cases.