'Old fashioned' ways are best to stay young: Chris Whitty reveals best ways to live longer

10 November 2023, 12:02

Chris Whitty has revealed some tip for a healthier, longer life
Chris Whitty has revealed some tip for a healthier, longer life. Picture: Alamy

By StephenRigley

People should adopt 'old-fashioned' methods to stay healthy as they age because getting ill is not inevitable.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Professor Sir Chris Whitty called on people to take responsibility for their own health with good diet and exercise while calling on the Government to do more to make healthy lives the norm.

His "old fashioned" tips included simple measures such as not smoking, socialising and exercising.

Professor Sir Chris Whitty
Professor Sir Chris Whitty. Picture: Alamy

Read More: Will this wipe out humanity? Rare space explosion has potential to destroy life for ‘thousands of years’

Read More: What killed the dinosaurs? Scientists reveal what caused the 'catastrophic collapse' that led to their extinction

Publishing his annual report, Health in an Ageing Society, Sir Chris, who is England's most senior doctor, said smoking rates are dropping and alcohol intake is falling in some groups, but 'obesity is going in the wrong direction'.

He said: “There are a lot of things people can do themselves which will delay the point where they first have disability and then multi-morbidity.

“They are old-fashioned things, actually.

“Having lots of exercise, having mental stimulation and a social network, eating a reasonably balanced diet (with) not too much high fat, sugar and salt, moderating alcohol, stopping smoking if you do – these are things which are old fashioned, but they still work.”

The report points to a rise in the availability of foods high in fat, salt and sugar, while places such as takeaways sell "large portion sizes of high-calorie foods".

Government action may include changing these environments, restricting the promotion of high fat, salt and sugar products and using the planning system "to restrict the concentration of hot food takeaways in an area".

Elsewhere in the report, Sir Chris said older people can be robbed of their independence and end up in care when homes, public buildings and towns are poorly planned.

He said that "being an older person in many parts of the country is extremely difficult", with houses currently "built for young families" rather than older people.

Sir Chris suggested art galleries and libraries could have grab rails or ramps to help people move around, while pavements and cycle lanes should be accessible with even surfaces 'because the key thing people want is independence'.

"Homes for older people need to be located in places where they can easily and safely reach the everyday shops and services that they need, preferably by active transport (walking or cycling) to help maintain their physical health.

"Public and green spaces should be designed to meet the needs of older people, including those with sensory and physical impairments."

Sir Chris suggested too many people are given no choice when it comes to life-extending treatments when they may not feel it is in their best interests.

He said that "extending life may or may not be right thing, and the key question on that should be 'What does the patient want?' and that question should be asked."

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Breaking
Shane MacGowan has died

The Pogues star Shane MacGowan dies at 65 days after being sent home from hospital as he battled brain condition

Fire consumes an area next to the Transpantaneira road in the Pantanal wetlands near Pocone, Mato Grosso state, Brazil, on November 15

UN weather agency says 2023 is hottest year on record – with more extremes ahead

Breaking
An 18-month row over pay, job security and conditions has come to an end, for now

Rail strike threat ends until at least Spring as RMT union votes to accept pay deal

Elon Musk

Musk swears at firms ‘trying to blackmail with money’ and says ‘don’t advertise’

King Charles brushed off controversy in his COP28 meeting with Nigeria’s president

King Charles says he’s 'alright… just about' as he brushes off Omid Scobie Endgame row

Rescuers work at the scene of a building damaged by shelling in Pokrovsk, Ukraine, on Thursday

Russian missile strikes in Ukraine bury families in rubble

Mr Scobie said he was 'frustrated' with the name appearing in the Dutch edition of the book

Omid Scobie says he is as 'frustrated as everyone else' after royals in racism storm named in Dutch version of Endgame

Elon Musk

Musk swears at firms ‘trying to blackmail with money’ and says ‘don’t advertise’

The banking district in Frankfurt, Germany

Inflation in Europe falls to 2.4%

Britain blanketed by snow amid weather warnings

Snow blankets Britain: Met Office issues snow and ice warnings as temperatures set to plunge to -8C

Japanese coastguard members pick up a floating object as they conduct search and rescue operation in the waters off Yakushima Island, Kagoshima prefecture, southern Japan on Thursday

Japan suspends its Osprey flights after deadly crash of US air force aircraft

In a blow to the High Street, a total of 623 bank branches are now set to shut this year.

Is your local branch affected? Lloyds Banking Group shuts another 45 branches including 22 Halifax and 19 Lloyds

Tom Tugendhat has paid tribute to his “friend” former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger who has died aged 100.

Tom Tugendhat pays tribute to 'friend' Henry Kissinger after former US Secretary of State dies aged 100

Live
Matt Hancock is appearing before the Covid inquiry today

Matt Hancock accused of ‘flat out lying’ by Dominic Cummings as he appears before Covid inquiry

Musk accused companies like Apple and Disney of engaging in the ad boycott and trying to blackmail him.

Elon Musk launches expletive rant at advertisers who boycotted his social media platform X

Families of those who lost loved ones during Covid have previously held Mr Hancock “directly responsible for the disproportionate loss of life”

Former health secretary Matt Hancock to face grilling over pandemic handling as he appears before Covid inquiry