What is healthspan vs. lifespan?
Why Staying Healthier for Longer Matters
We’ve all heard stories about people hoping to live to 140 or experimenting with extreme diets and new drugs to extend their lives. But for most of us, it’s not just about living longer—it’s about staying healthier for as many years as possible. A longer life in ill health significantly impacts quality of life.
This is what experts call healthspan. The years you live free from serious diseases or frailty.
For
older adults, the difference between healthspan and lifespan is crucial. Chronic conditions such as
cardiovascular diseases,
heart failure, and
coronary heart disease affect the ability to enjoy later years.
These health problems not only reduce life expectancy but also diminish the capacity to engage in daily activities. Improving healthspan involves addressing the
risk factors that lead to such diseases, including hypertension, obesity, and diabetes.
According to the
World Health Organization, the pandemic caused the gloabl healthy life expectancy to decline drastically. Campaigns from Public health aim to extend healthspan, ensuring people enjoy good health for longer.
This article will explore healthy ageing and healthspan vs lifespan.
Why Healthspan Matters
Research shows that most older adults are not afraid of dying. They worry more about the ageing process and losing their independence or being a burden to their family. That’s why focusing on healthspan is vital. Instead of just adding years to our lives, we want to add quality to those years—staying strong, active, and engaged in life.
Scientists believe that improving healthspan could help delay or even prevent common age-related illnesses like heart disease, diabetes, stroke, certain cancers and dementia.
How Can We Improve Our Healthspan?
1.
Healthy lifestyle choices – The things we know we should do:
- Regular physical activity (like Move it or Lose it!)
- Maintain a healthy diet eating nutritious food
- Getting good sleep
- Staying socially connected
2.
New Science – Researchers are studying ways to target ageing itself.
They are experiementing with drugs and treatments that slow down how our cells age. Some of these methods have shown success in animals. But researchers are still testing them for humans.
Start Now: small steps, significant impact
What steps do you need to take to improve your healthspan? Studies show that regular movement, strength exercises, and a positive attitude can make a huge difference.
Countries like Japan and Singapore demonstrate how to live longer, healthier lives. In these countries, health starts declining much later, around age 73, compared to earlier in life for many others. In the UK about 50% of people aged over 50 have at least one long term health condition.
How to live well
You can’t control everything about your ageing journey. Illness or genes can play a signifcant role in healthspan.
But how you live your life each day truly matters. You can improve your health by joining an exercise class, making new friends, or simply finding joy in movement. Small changes add to significant results.
Move it or Lose it help you move more, stay stronger, and make every moment count. After all, it’s not just about adding years to your life—it’s about adding life to your years.
Staying socially connected plays a vital role in healthy ageing. It reduces loneliness and isolation, which link to numerous health problems, including depression and cognitive decline.
Engaging with others can boost mental well-being, lower stress levels, and even contribute to better heart health. Move it or Lose it create opportunities for older people to connect, laugh, and share experiences. Our community classes and online club bring people together. Building these connections enhances not just physical health but also emotional resilience, fostering a happier and more fulfilling life.
Improve your healthspan with Move it or Lose it
Move it or Lose it has a
network of community exercise classes led by expert instructors across the UK. Research consistently shows that staying active reduces the risk of illnesses like heart disease, dementia, and diabetes. Our classes improve strength, boost balance and help keep your heart healthy.
If you prefer to stay active at home, the
Move it or Lose it Online Club brings our expertise straight into your home. You can enjoy live weekly classes and targeted pre-recorded tutorials. You can enjoy the benefits of exercise whenever and wherever it suits you.
Founded by senior fitness expert Julie Robinson, our team is passionate about making fitness accessible and fun.
Join Our Community Today
Try a
30-day free trial to explore everything the
Move it or Lose it Online Club has to offer—no payment details required. After the trial, continue your journey for just £4.99 per month, or save with an annual membership at £54.89 (including a free month).
You can take an active role in supporting a loved one’s health and well-being. Gift them a membership. You can manage their account if they’re not confident online. Whether it’s for a family member, friend, or someone in your care, this feature allows you to ensure they stay connected and active.
Simply select whether you’d like to gift a monthly or annual membership and choose the “this is a gift” option at checkout. Once set up, you can manage their account, access their classes, and help them stay on track with their fitness goals.
Show you care and make a positive impact on their health journey. Take the first step towards improving your healthspan today.
Join
your local community class or our
online club. You’ll find a welcoming community dedicated to helping you move more and live better.
Search our classfinder with your postcode to find a local session or sign up online to start your fitness journey.
Live better with Move it or Lose it! Healthspan vs. lifespan.
Healthspan is about living a better quality of life. Live free from disease, staying independent, and embracing life to the fullest. At Move it or Lose it, we empower older adults to take control of their health and well-being through movement, connection, and community.
Move it or Lose it can help you to get stronger and steadier on your feet. Enjoy every moment with confidence and vitality.
Don’t wait to start your journey to a healthier, happier you. Join
a local class or
sign up for our online club today. Together, let’s add life to your years and make every day count.
