Prescribing Exercise as an Alternative Treatment for Ageing Populations of the 21st Century

Abstract

Life expectancy has significantly increased over the past few decades. Since 1990,
life expectancy at birth has increased by 6 years globally, and populations live on average 20
years longer than 50 years ago according to the latest WHO report on ageing.1 The retirement
age, currently average at 65 years, and is expected to rise to almost 70 years by 2060 in many
developed countries (EU report, 2015). For example, the UK legislation is expected to rise the
pension age to 68 by 2046.1,2
However, the positive income effects of governments’increase in retirement age have
also had negative effects on increasing government health care expenditures.3 For example,
healthcare spent in USA has recently been reported as $4.6 trillion.4 Chronic diseases in the
UK cost the NHS £542 million for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and £158 million for type-II
diabetes.5 Therefore, implementing effective preventative measures for healthy ageing should
consider cost-effective strategies, especially those involving drug-free and involve reduced
number of hospital visits.