In Dr. Peter Attia’s  2023 book, Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity, he discusses the importance of changing the way we think (and act) when it comes to modern medicine and our personal wellbeing.  One of the changes he advocates for is to think in terms of Healthspan rather than Lifespan.

Healthspan puts the focus on the quality of our health as we age, living free of disability and disease, rather than just how many years we manage to survive.  In 1900, the average lifespan was about 50 years, while today the average American will live to be 77.  Dr. Attia points out that in the early 1900’s most people died of ‘fast causes’ like accidents and infectious diseases.  In today’s world, those fast causes have been mostly replaced by slow, drawn out deaths due to heart disease, cancer, diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases.  In many instances, those diseases develop in individuals who are relatively young and still active in the workforce.

Employers can play a huge role in helping employees be proactive with their health as opposed to just reacting to medical concerns once they appear.  By making it easy for employees to focus on wellbeing areas such as exercise, mental health, sleep, and nutrition, organizations can help employees delay or prevent the onset of chronic disease.  This is an obvious win for the employee but employer’s benefit as well through a more productive and engaged workforce and lower healthcare costs.

At AM Wellness, we recognize the importance of healthspan and make it our goal to help as many people as possible change their lives for the better.  Whether it’s providing access to financial or mental health counseling, or helping someone lose weight and become more physically active, our program of true human coaching paired with an engaging digital experience will allow employers to create a premier wellbeing experience.