Looking back 150 years, the proportion of elderly in Japans population was only a few per cent; now it exceeds 27%, making Japan the worlds top super-aged society. In 2060, it will exceed 38% and remain at this level in the future, retaining its top spot. OECD countries and many emerging economies including China will follow suit at their own respective speeds. The transition is a great outcome of public health and medicine.
A super-aged society is a natural consequence of longevity and we should celebrate it; on the other hand, our new challenge is healthy longevity or how we can be healthy, active and happy until the very end of our lives. Japanese data on the elderly, gathered by Dr Hiroko Akiyama of the University of Tokyo, suggests that health status at 65 is a strong indication of quality of life for the rest of life. In the 70-year-lifespan model, where people die in their 60s or 70s, health is not as big an issue for working-age people; in the 100-year lifespan model, one should continuously invest in ones health from as early a point as possible to maintain ones health after retirement. But how?
The Fourth Industrial Revolution offers good news on this front. Now, it is much easier than ever before to gather indicators of what affects ones health. We can gather genomic data, daily vitality data, health check data and medical treatment data. We can also gather data regarding lifestyle, social connectedness and financial activity all at a lower cost. Then artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT) and Big Data analysis can help us to understand our health more accurately and easily, and maintain it cost-effectively. We have rich new solutions for healthier lives.
The issue is the motivation or incentive for ordinary people to invest in their health before becoming elderly. Health geeks with rich health literacy invest in their health, using new technology but we observe quite a number of ordinary people with less health literacy. How can we inspire such uninterested people toward health investment or prevention before becoming sick?
The traditional approaches are from government, insurers or healthcare providers. National or local governments encourage members of their populations to improve health literacy and to receive health checks. Insurers may change member premiums and conditions, based on the member's health status or lifestyle. Hospitals and medical doctors are in a good position to advise locals. However, governments tend to lack resources, insurers cannot reach non-members and hospitals cannot cover people who dont come to hospitals.
Governments can enforce obligations for ordinary individuals or businesses to take care of their health. A typical example of this is regulation for occupational health. While the requirement level and compliance level differs country by country, we observe employers obligations to secure employee safety and health in offices and factories in many countries. However, while a legal obligation is good at securing minimum standards, it is not good at encouraging best practices. An obligation is necessary but insufficient.
We need to use incentives for both individuals and businesses to realize better occupational health. A public-private partnership programme called Health and Productivity Management (H&PM) started in Japan six years ago. It encourages CEOs and company management to invest on a voluntary basis in their employees' health for productivity and creativity purposes. The return of that investment is healthier employees with energy and enthusiasm and better evaluations from the labour market, capital markets, customers and society, all of which improves the value of the company. Now, more than 2,300 large companies and 35,000 SMEs in Japan have implemented H&PM.
External evaluation strengthens the return of investment. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) and the Tokyo Stock Exchange select 35 listed companies from 26 sectors (based on the results of a yearly survey) for the H&PM stock selection competition. in addition, Nippon Kenko Kaigi, a large business and medical federation including the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Japan Medical Association, nominates 3,300 companies as certified H&PM companies.
So far, we have observed positive outcomes from H&PM. In the past five years, certified H&PM companies have outperformed other ordinary companies on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, according to an analysis by Tokyo Mitsubishi and Morgan Stanley Securities. Some institutional investors such as AXA Insurance have started considering H&PM as one element of environment, social and corporate governance (ESG).
While direct evidence is lacking, logically speaking, H&PM will have positive external effects on the rest of society and the economy, since healthier employees become healthier citizens and active consumers. Considering new business trends such as the SDGs, ESG or stakeholder capitalism, some companies are now more focused on these external effects than on the financial returns derived.
Countries with the largest populations aged 60 and above
H&PM is not unique to Japan: Johnson & Johnson started H&PM decades ago and say one dollar invested generates 3 dollars in return. The US Chamber of Commerce issued a report that poor occupational health reduces GDP by 8.2%, 7%, 5.4% in the US, Japan and China respectively. In 2019, Business 20 (B20) included H&PM into its proposal to the G20. H&PM is a good strategy for improving occupational health in emerging economies with fewer initial resources. Sri Lanka started an H&PM awards programme in 2019.
It is fair to say that the rapid expansion of H&PM in Japan faces a unique challenge owing to the countrys labour shortage. As an ageing society, Japan lacks younger individuals as human resources, which makes recruitment a very important business issue. The same is true for the need to retain trained staff and convincing them not to resign. While H&PM works very well in this regard, such a labour shortage may happen in many countries as they age.
Increasing human productivity is one of the hot topics among global businesses amid rapid industrial structural change. I believe, H&PM is a new, positive strategy for realizing healthy longevity which will prove effective in many companies and economies.
License and Republishing
World Economic Forum articles may be republished in accordance with our Terms of Use.
Written by
Kazumi Nishikawa, Director, Healthcare Industries Division, Commerce and Service Industry Policy Group, Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan
The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.
Go here to see the original:
How to get ageing populations to invest in their health - World Economic Forum
- Inside the longevity lab that aims to help people live longer - TODAY - February 27th, 2024
- I'm a longevity expert these are the 4 supplements I take every day to fight aging - New York Post - February 27th, 2024
- The Longest Living People In the World All Abide by the 'Power 9' Rule - GQ - February 27th, 2024
- Im a longevity expert and there's six things you should do daily if you want to live longer' - Daily Record - February 27th, 2024
- Reducing the metabolic burden of rRNA synthesis promotes healthy longevity in Caenorhabditis elegans - Nature.com - February 27th, 2024
- Presidio Federal's Thad Anderson Receives WashingtonExec's Longevity Award - WashingtonExec - February 27th, 2024
- Faces of wealth, intellect and longevity, as revealed by veteran face reader - The Korea Herald - February 27th, 2024
- I'm a longevity expert here are the best foods to eat for a long and healthy life - New York Post - February 27th, 2024
- Danny Care: 'Pilates Has Helped with the Longevity of My Career' - Men's Health UK - February 27th, 2024
- Give Me This Mountain | Tips for Spiritual Longevity - Harvest.org - February 27th, 2024
- Chris Hemsworth did a 4-day fast to reverse aging. His trainer played a cheeky joke to test his willpower. - Yahoo Canada Shine On - February 27th, 2024
- Pet longevity is a spark about to turn into a wildfire - Longevity.Technology - February 27th, 2024
- The Longevity of Bitcoin's Bull Run; Polkadot and Up-and-Coming Memecoin Draw Crowds - Analytics Insight - February 27th, 2024
- 'This is weird': Experts 'shocked' by record-breaking longevity of Death Valley's phantom lake - Livescience.com - February 27th, 2024
- Understanding the Longevity of SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Responses to Infection and Vaccination - Medriva - February 27th, 2024
- Experts agree: The fasting-mimicking diet may be the key to longevity - Longevity.Technology - February 27th, 2024
- Daily habits of a longevity expert : TED Radio Hour - NPR - December 30th, 2023
- Why does fruitcake last so long? Ingredients and preparation of the dessert play into its longevity - Fox News - December 30th, 2023
- Interviews of 2023: the longevity companies - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- Nancy Wilson Discusses Longevity of Heart & Family Drama Within the Band Ahead of New Year's Eve Show in Seattle - American Songwriter - December 30th, 2023
- What Will It Take To Make Super-Aging Not So Super-White? - Well+Good - December 30th, 2023
- Arteta on Moyes and longevity in coaching | Quotes | News - Arsenal.com - December 30th, 2023
- New Years resolution guide: 5 steps to a healthier 2024 from a longevity expert - Fox News - December 30th, 2023
- Interviews of 2023: the longevity visionaries - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- The Top 11 Longevity Tips Of 2023, From The mindbodygreen Podcast | mindbodygreen - mindbodygreen - December 30th, 2023
- Why LeBron James' longevity is unmatched in the NBA | Good Word with Goodwill - Yahoo Sports - December 30th, 2023
- Short vs long fasts: What is the ideal length for longevity? - Longevity.Technology - December 30th, 2023
- Centenarians share the secrets to living a long, healthy life - Fox Business - December 30th, 2023
- Rob Lowe on Turning 60 Soon & His Secret to Career Longevity (Exclusive) - Extra - December 30th, 2023
- Investigating the longevity and diversity of South Asian miniature traditions - STIRworld - December 30th, 2023
- The Silent Threat of Hypochondria: Impact on Longevity and Health - Medriva - December 30th, 2023
- Longevity: What lifestyle habits could help you live to 100? - December 22nd, 2023
- Aiming for longevity - Harvard Health - December 22nd, 2023
- How Long Can We Live? - The New York Times - December 22nd, 2023
- This Was the Year of Obsessing Over Longevity - GQ - December 22nd, 2023
- Menopause Age Looms Over Women. Efforts to Prevent it Could Extend Fertility. - Bloomberg - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity: Is exercise the key to a longer, healthier life? - Medical News Today - December 22nd, 2023
- The #1 Sign You'll Live to 100, According to Longevity Experts - Gwinnettdailypost.com - December 22nd, 2023
- Cowboys Take On Dolphins, How Longevity Factors Into Hall of Fame Election and More - The 33rd Team - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity Hacks Are Coming to Your Gym - WSJ - The Wall Street Journal - December 22nd, 2023
- 106-year-old woman shares hobbies, habits she says helped longevity - Business Insider - December 22nd, 2023
- Tips to Improve Your Health & Longevity in the New Year - KATU - December 22nd, 2023
- NN Group gets 13bn longevity risk transfer with Prudential and Swiss Re - Reinsurance News - December 22nd, 2023
- A fresh perspective on longevity - savannahmagazine - December 22nd, 2023
- Este Lauder targets age reversal with Stanford Center on Longevity partnership - Cosmetics Business - December 22nd, 2023
- Longevity means taking a proactive approach to prevention - Longevity.Technology - December 22nd, 2023
- Decoding Longevity: Centenarian Traits and Aging Research - BNN Breaking - December 22nd, 2023
- Brain Age: The Science of Cognitive Longevity - BNN Breaking - December 22nd, 2023
- The Role of Exercise in Longevity: A Holistic Approach to Health and Fitness - Medriva - December 22nd, 2023
- Get interventions to market and to people faster and cheaper - Longevity.Technology - December 22nd, 2023
- Humans Could Live up to 150 Years, New Research Suggests - May 17th, 2023
- The ingredients for a longer life - BBC Future - May 17th, 2023
- Life Expectancy by State 2023 - World Population Review - May 17th, 2023
- About Us - Fountain Life - May 17th, 2023
- Longevity: The Keys to Slow the Aging Process - Dr. Axe - March 29th, 2023
- "I got a 20-year contract. Giannis is going to play for 20 more years" - Mike Budenholzer on the longevity of Giannis Antetokounmpo and the... - January 23rd, 2023
- "I think Nadal has been doing a great job of that in the last four or five years": McEnroe believes Murray needs to shorten points for... - January 23rd, 2023
- Jon Voight is 'blessed' to have had such a long Hollywood career - Yakima Herald-Republic - November 7th, 2022
- USD Index to sink to 103 by end-2023 amid greater certainty and longevity of Dollar downtrend Westpac - FXStreet - November 7th, 2022
- Retirement Calculator | Northwestern Mutual - October 15th, 2022
- The Longevity Investors Conference Gstaad brought together longevity experts and deep-pocketed investors - Cointelegraph - October 15th, 2022
- Do you think ageing can be reversed? Here are 12 longevity startups to watch - Sifted - October 15th, 2022
- 'SNL' Gig Was a Risk Rob Lowe Credits for His Longevity: 'I Had People in My Life Telling Me - TheWrap - October 15th, 2022
- Wellness and longevity brand Serotonin Centers to open in Nashville - Tennessean - October 15th, 2022
- Lesley Stahl on longevity of '60 Minutes': 'That clock is still there' - USA TODAY - October 15th, 2022
- 4 Recipes With Corn, Beans, and SquashThe Three Sisters Ingredients That Blue Zone Centenarians in Costa Rica Eat Every Day - Well+Good - October 15th, 2022
- The Search for a Pill That Can Help Dogsand HumansLive Longer - WIRED - October 15th, 2022
- Supontis vs Dogecoin, Which Cryptocurrency Has Greater Longevity In The Market? - Coinpedia Fintech News - October 15th, 2022
- Louisville Zoo says goodbye to one of world's oldest gorillas - Evening News and Tribune - October 15th, 2022
- 'Prolong your lifespan': 5 'cheapest' foods that can boost longevity - Express - October 15th, 2022
- FOXO Technologies Announces First Distribution Partner and Begins Product Rollout in California; Expands Executive Team With Insurance Industry Talent... - October 15th, 2022
- Timeless: USM Arts and Sciences Faculty Members Ball, Meade Cite Love for Students, Teaching as Keys to Longevity in Profession - The University of... - October 15th, 2022
- The Best Workout To Slow Aging and Promote Longevity, Science Reveals Eat This Not That - Eat This, Not That - September 4th, 2022
- Share your story of loss or survival as part of The Longevity Project series on cancer - Summit Daily - September 4th, 2022
- Drinking two cups of tea a day is linked to boosted longevity - Women's Health UK - September 4th, 2022
- How the Asphalt Industry Can Improve Pavement Longevity - For Construction Pros - September 4th, 2022
- Longevity: Playing the Long Game in Ministry - The Gospel Coalition - September 4th, 2022
- Know 3 longevity secrets of the last USSR President Mikhail Gorbachev who died at the ripe age of 91 - Times Now - September 4th, 2022
- Tyrese Maxey Lauds LeBron James, Serena Williams, And Tom Brady For Their Longevity: "What Is In The Water Bron, Serena, And TB12... - September 4th, 2022
- 'There Should be Some Reward for Longevity in This Game'-Kiwi Pacer Wants Change In Central Contracts - News18 - September 4th, 2022