A new report by the World Health Organization says governments need to start investing in preventing poor health in old age now as Europe's population ages.
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00:00 Europe's population is aging rapidly. Next year it's estimated the over 65 year olds will outnumber the under 15 year olds. And habits and attitudes need to be adjusted accordingly.
00:11 That's the message of a World Health Organization report which advocates healthier lifestyles to ensure well-being in advanced years.
00:18 The starting point is better eating the report says and governments should be doing more.
00:24 To promote healthy diets it's about reformulating foods, reducing the salt content of foods, eliminating trans fats, sugar consumption, also communication and public awareness campaigns specific to older adults could be beneficial, but also developing age-friendly environments through urban design and planning.
00:48 Staying active and taking regular exercise is also crucial. The WHO says it's not just individuals who benefit from keeping fit.
00:57 We published a report in collaboration with the OECD earlier this year on the cost of physical inactivity on health systems in the European Union. We estimated that 8 billion euros per year could be saved if more people were physically active, meeting the WHO recommended levels of physical activity.
01:21 The report urges governments to adapt policies to enable older people to be more independent while maintaining social connections and contributing to society, all of which bring their own health benefits.
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