How Singapore became a ‘Blue Zone 2.0’ by engineering a 20-year increase in lifespans
- Longevity expert explains how enlightened polices have increased Singapore lifespans, as track stars in their 80s talk about ageing well
Singapore was named a Blue Zone 2.0, or "the next frontier of ageing", in 2023 by Dan Buettner, the American author and explorer who coined the term "Blue Zones" for places with lower rates of chronic disease and a longer life expectancy.
Unlike the five original places Buettner identified - Okinawa, Japan; Sardinia, Italy; Nicoya, Costa Rica; Ikaria, Greece; and Loma Linda, California - where traditional ways of life have naturally led inhabitants to live longer and healthier lives, Singapore is an "engineered" Blue Zone.
Its status is the product of infrastructure, programmes and legislation that encourage citizens to live healthier lives. Singapore features in the 2023 Netflix documentary Live to 100: Secrets of the Blue Zones.
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Life expectancy in Singapore has grown by 20 years since 1960, and in 2023 the Southeast Asian island state had the seventh highest in the world, with an average lifespan of 82.13 years for men and 86.42 years for women.
This is not by accident, says Dr Andrea Maier, a professor at the National University of Singapore and co-founder of the Chi Longevity clinic in Singapore.
"For one, Singapore has an excellent healthcare system, and that helps with increasing life expectancy," she says.
"The government has also created green spaces all over the island, so, even though Singapore is highly urban, no one is ever too far from beautiful pockets of nature in which to rest and relax."
Being in nature has been shown to help manage stress and enhance overall well-being.
"Singapore is also walkable, with countless covered or shaded walkways that make it easy for people to travel on foot, whatever the weather.
"Whole, healthy foods are subsidised and accessible to the population. For instance, food labels, which identify the fibre, sugar, fat or sodium content of a dish, help people make better food choices when they go out to eat," she says.
"Singaporeans are motivated to be physically active, thanks to government initiatives that reward citizens for exercising."
People can download the Health Promotion Board's Healthy 365 app, choose a healthy activity to participate in - such as eating healthier food, or counting steps - and earn points from that activity to redeem rewards.
The original Blue Zones are family-oriented; so, too, is the city state. The Singapore government provides tax breaks to young families who live with or near their ageing parents, making it easy for grandparents to stay connected to their families.
Authorities look for ways to support active living and ageing. For instance, 40 per cent of residents in suburban Yio Chu Kang are at least 65 years old; by 2025, officials have announced plans for it to be the first town in the city state to be dementia-friendly.
This may include having painted murals on buildings to help people find their way more easily, and Go-To Points for lost people, with trained staff who can calm them down, provide advice and help contact their carers.
John Chua and Lim Jun Han, both 80 years old, reflect the success of the government's health-promotion programmes, policies and infrastructure. They have lived in Singapore all their lives. The two run regularly and are members of the Singapore Masters Track and Field Association (SMTFA).
In June, they teamed up with two other men, Chia Hearn Kok, 83, and Soh Chin Koon, 81, to take part in two relay events at SMTFA's International Masters Track & Field Championships in Singapore.
They were the only team in the oldest category: male, aged 80 to 84. But they performed well. They finished the 4 x 100 metres event in 73.87 seconds. To put that in perspective, the current men's world record stands at 36.84, set by the Jamaican team at the final of the 2012 London Olympic Games by men less than a third their age - including Usain Bolt.
They finished the 4 x 400m event in a little over seven-and-a-half minutes; the world record is under 2:55.
"We were the first octogenarians to participate in a relay event in Singapore," says Chua.
Both men are healthy - although Lim has high cholesterol - and physically active. Chua played soccer and tennis when he was younger and started running when he was still an executive at Singapore Airlines.
Lim, who worked in the civil service, has been running since he was a boy in school. He also played rugby and volleyball, and later in life, took up squash.
Chua and Lim agree that living in Singapore makes it easy to age healthily. "The government encourages us to keep fit and live a balanced lifestyle," says Chua.
"There are parks in every housing estate, and almost everyone has access to sports facilities, like stadiums, where they can walk or jog. And choosing healthy meals in hawker centres is a cinch because many hawkers offer healthier options."
Both men adopt a positive mindset, stay up-to-date with current events, and spend time with friends and family.
"Having hobbies contributes to longevity, too," Chua says, adding that he is passionate about wine and has run his own wine business since he retired.
"I have been an international wine judge for more than two decades and occasionally conduct wine presentations for companies and wine enthusiasts. I love learning new things about wine, so I'm always reading about it."
Lim likes fixing things around his house, gardening and going to the market. He also maintains a website where he shares tips on how to create strong and secure passwords, creativepasswords.com.
These athletes are helping to change attitudes about ageing, for the better.
According to Maier, more people accept that older people have much to contribute. This empowers older people to take better care of themselves and live with joy, optimism and purpose.
At her clinic, Maier and her team help clients age healthily, to feel energetic and to live full and productive lives well into their seventies and beyond.
"Healthy ageing is defined as getting older without developing age-related diseases, such as dementia, diabetes, and heart disease.
"When someone comes to us for help to reverse or slow down biological ageing, we look at how to decrease their risk of developing age-related diseases, or, if they have an age-related disease, we try to minimise their risk of disease progression or of getting a second or third disease.
"We look for ways to optimise their health, help them feel better and help their body function optimally."
Maier adds that it is never too late to work towards increasing your lifespan and boosting your chances of ageing healthily.
"The human body is capable of amazing change when lifestyle habits are improved. All ages are a good time to start making positive adjustments, but, even if you're older, you can still find ways to optimise your health."
Chua says that getting up and moving is a good start.
"Many people spend too much time sitting down or watching TV. They don't exercise enough. If they could spend that time walking or doing some stretching exercises, they'd soon notice an improvement in their well-being," he explains.
"I don't have the magic formula for living longer, but I do believe that it's important to be physically active every day."
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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.
Copyright (c) 2024. South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.
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