Some of the changes retirees made to their routines were increasing physical activity by 93 minutes a week; decreasing sedentary time by 67 minutes per day; and increasing sleep by 11 minutes per day.

In addition, 50 per cent of female smokers stopped smoking.

"The lifestyle changes were most pronounced in people who retire after working full time," lead researcher Dr Melody Ding, senior research fellow at the University's School of Public Health, said in a statement.

Dr. Ding added, "When people are working and commuting, it eats a lot of time out of their day. When they retire, they have time to be physically active and sleep more."

Considering how Americans struggle to save enough for retirement, even postponing the day when they leave the workplace to amass additional funds—in many cases because of high anticipated health care costs, including the potential need for long-term care, in retirement—they may be looking at the picture the wrong way around.

Early saving could make for a healthier retirement and lower costs, instead of the anticipated higher costs that boomers expect to confront during their golden years.

Younger people in particular, who still have time to save more diligently, are envisioning retirement far beyond today's "normal" retirement age of 65.

But if they can up their retirement plan balances, they could go on to enjoy many healthy years pursuing their own goals, instead of someone else's.