The average UK citizen is expected to live to an average age of 78.05 years, according to research conducted by i09.com in 2012. This ranks the UK as 30th most long-lived nation in the world, out of 222 countries, which seems like a good result. However, this doesn’t stop most people wishing they knew the secret of prolonging their lives even further!
Is Technology the New ‘Fountain of Youth’?
Staying fit and healthy can boost your lifespan – the NHS recommends that those over the age of 65 should engage in at least 150 minutes of aerobic exercise a week, and 2 weekly sessions of muscle-strengthening activities. More and more people are turning to their smartphones and investing in wearable devices in a bid to improve their health.
Devices such as wearable fitness bands and fitness monitoring apps can help enable you to monitor your progression, record results and stay focused on your fitness journey.
Can it really increase life expectancy?
Technology can be used effectively to motivate a healthier lifestyle and encourage fitness, but it’s important to note that it will not get results on its own. To notice any benefits, the user needs to adopt the appropriate changes to their lifestyle. ‘Technology that supports healthy lifestyles can improve the quality of aging. But it’s not yet proven that it expands your life,’ says lifespan psychologist Ursula M. Staudinger.
Living Longer… or Living Better?
People should focus their efforts on boosting their health, improving fitness and getting the best out of their lives instead of focusing on how long they have to live, says Staudinger. Technology can help people to avoid sickness, which ‘would be major in terms of costs to society and the quality of life of individuals and their families’.
