Did you know that:

• In the UK, 22 million people, or a third of the population, are aged 50 years or over?
• 40 percent of people aged 65 and over have a long term limiting illness?
• If nothing is done about age related illness, in less than 16 years, it is estimated there will be 6 million people with a long term illness or disability?

Tips for what can you do now to increase your odds of being in that healthy 60 percent?

Tip 1. To become more mobile and take more exercise get your partner or a close friend involved.

The numbers of people who reach recommended levels of physical activity has remained ‘flat’ over the last few years. In England only 19 per cent of adults aged 65-74 achieve minimum levels of exercise each week (up to 150 minutes of moderately vigorous activity). By the time we reach 75, less than one in 10 of us reach this goal.

Recent research has shown the benefits of getting your partner involved! Over two thirds of both men and women became more active if their partner joined them compared to only a quarter if their partner remained inactive.

You can do it: Become more mobile. Take more exercise. Make it a habit (see ‘Moving towards a life I love’; ‘Are you an active couch potato?’)

Tip 2. To eat a healthier diet add at least 5 small handfuls of a fruit or vegetable each day and plan this in advance.  

According to Department of Health data only 37 per cent of older adults meet the recommended intake of fruit or vegetables (“5-a-day”). A recent study has suggested that an even healthier target would be “7-a-day”. Although critics of these diets complain that fresh fruit and vegetables are an expensive alternative to ‘fast’ processed food, the evidence that the former is far healthier is compelling.

You can do it: Look at healthy alternatives, plan this in advance and make it a habit. 

Tip 3. Give up smoking by getting your partner (or close friend) to join you in your resolution.

The good news is that smoking habits have changed significantly in the last 20 years. Office for National Statistics figures (ONS 2013) show that only 20 per cent of the population smoke. Compare this to 1962 when 72 per cent of men and 47 per cent of women smoked. By the time we reach 60 only 14 percent of men and 12 per cent of women still smoke.

if you have a partner or friend who smokes then a recent study published in JAMA Internal Medicine (Jan. 2015) has shown that if both of you decide to quit you have a 50% chance of being successful compared to around 8% if he or she continues to smoke.

You can do it: Give up smoking and make it a habit.

Tip 4. To lose weight successfully, no matter which method you chose, get your partner or a close friend to join you

Whilst smoking habits have changed there has been a simultaneous increase in the numbers of people who are overweight. According to recent data one third of women aged 65+ are overweight and a further third are obese. 54 per cent of men are overweight and nearly a third are obese.

if you have a partner who joins you in a weight loss program you are two and a half times more likely to lose at least 5% of your body weight than if you try and do it alone.

You can do it: Lose weight and very importantly make it a habit.

Tip 5. Learn to enjoy alcohol sensibly by resetting your ‘alcohol-stat’ 

According to recent data, by the time we reach 65, 24 per cent of men and 13 per cent of women drink alcohol on at least 5 days a week and many exceed safe limits.(≤14 units for women, ≤21 units for men per week)

You can do it: Enjoy safer amounts of alcohol and make it a habit (see: ‘Are you grumpy before your time?’ ‘Healthy Drinking: testing your units’; ‘Resetting your ‘alcohol-stat’)