Healthy living key as life expectancy increases: PHE

Public Health England (PHE) has highlighted the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle in mid to later years, after a new report found that life expectancy at older ages in England has risen to its highest ever level.

According to PHE’s report on recent trends in life expectancy at older ages, men in England can now expect to live for a further 19 years at age 65, 12 years at 75, 6 years at 85 and 3 years at 95.

The findings for women are even more promising. They can expect to live for a further 21 years at age 65, 13 years at 75, 7 years at 85, and 3 years at 95.

The health body says the findings underline the importance of a balanced diet and regular exercise to ensure that these later years yield a good quality of life.

“People in England are living longer than ever and that makes achieving a good quality of life in later years even more important. Our current evidence shows that people are living longer but many are doing so in poor health,” said professor John Newton, chief knowledge officer at PHE.

“This report is an opportunity to remind people that, even during mid-life, it is not too late to improve your health. Most of us could make changes today, like stopping smoking, being more active or eating better, that would allow us to look forward to healthier later years.”

The fact older people are living for much longer offers a multitude of opportunities for physical activity providers to help maintain health and mobility.

A report last year by Barclays Corporate Banking found that leisure and hospitality businesses could be missing out on up to £16bn in additional revenues by failing to adequately cater to the needs of over 65-year-olds.

Meanwhile, recent research from Nuffield Health revealed that over 65s are the chain’s most active gym users. The not-for-profit wellness provider said gym usage peaks at age 72 – when members typically rack up eight visits per month on average – demonstrating how longer lifespans mean people can remain health club users for far longer than has traditionally been the case.