"The First Generation To Grow Up Exercising"

This may be the stupidest thing I've ever read in the New York Times, and that's saying something:

"...It is not terribly surprising that when orthopedists open their doors, they see more and more baby boomers in their waiting rooms. After all, there are so many of them. But there is evidence that boomers may be seeking knee treatment in disproportionate numbers.

Some have suggested that this may be because members of the first generation to grow up exercising have put a lot of wear and tear on their bodies. But that is not clear.

“We say that, but we’re not sure of that,” said Dr. Letha Griffin, a staff member at the Peachtree Orthopaedic Clinic in Atlanta and a team physician for Georgia State University. Dr. Griffin noted that one of the best ways to avoid arthritis is to keep fit — and that means exercise."

Did reporter Eric Nagourney not read the next paragraph? Did he not stop for a second to think? Can he think? What about "the layers of fact checkers and editors" that the Times employs?

The mind reels.