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Arab News
15-06-2025
- Health
- Arab News
The rise of healthy aging: a new frontier in wellness
While science and knowledge drive many trends shaping the world, these shifts are followed by social, cultural and economic changes that, in turn, affect human societies. Whether this influence begins in isolated communities or not, it ultimately leads us to the globally interconnected world we live in today, compelling us to adapt, transform and integrate with these phenomena. In recent years, the wellness industry has seen the emergence of new terms, concepts and vast untapped potential. One such concept is healthy aging, which is reshaping societal and individual consciousness. It is also transforming this demographic segment into an attractive economic market — steering capitalism toward developing comprehensive product systems for it, while enabling older adults to remain active and influential in various areas of life. This shift can impact society and national economies by enabling older people to stay healthy, productive and active, reducing the economic burden associated with healthcare, caregiving and welfare. According to UN projections, the number of people aged 65 and older worldwide will double — from 761 million in 2021 to 1.6 billion by 2050. The population aged 80 and above is expected to grow even faster. As time passes and life expectancy increases, and as rapid technological advances continue, the need for effective solutions to support healthier aging is becoming more urgent among these growing population segments. This trend does not originate from top-down societal or governmental vision and planning. Rather, it stems from a personal and individual perspective — growing awareness among people who increasingly prioritize their well-being and longevity. This awareness has developed over the years due to multiple factors, including technological and societal progress, the effects of globalization and the impact of pandemics. This article explores the evolving landscape of healthy aging and highlights the key factors that contribute to a fulfilling and vibrant later life. Healthy aging refers to the process of maintaining and enhancing functional capacity — relative to one's age — that supports well-being in older age. It goes beyond the mere absence of disease and includes the promotion of physical, mental and social health. The core components of healthy aging include physical health, such as maintaining a balanced diet, regular exercise and managing chronic diseases; mental health, which involves supporting cognitive function, managing stress and promoting emotional well-being; and social connections, through meaningful relationships and active participation in community life to strengthen social support. It also includes finding purpose and engagement, whether through work, volunteering or hobbies that bring a sense of fulfillment; and lastly, access to care — ensuring that older adults benefit from healthcare, social services and supportive environments. Overall, healthy aging promotes a holistic approach to improving quality of life as people grow older. One of the most important drivers of this trend is the shift in perspective — from merely preventing disease to enhancing effectiveness and life satisfaction. The concept of healthy aging now goes beyond avoiding age-related illnesses; it embraces a holistic approach that prioritizes both physical and mental health, fosters a sense of purpose and encourages active engagement with life. This shift reflects a growing recognition that a long life is only truly valuable when it is also healthy and fulfilling. Specialized studies also indicate that social relationships and emotional engagement are key contributors to this growing trend. A recent study by the McKinsey Health Institute, which surveyed more than 21,000 people aged 55 and older across 21 countries, revealed a common thread: Purpose, social connection and independence are the most important factors for a positive aging experience. The study found that people who maintain a sense of purpose, manage stress effectively and nurture meaningful relationships tend to report higher levels of overall well-being. Mental and spiritual health also play a significant role in this trend. While physical health tends to decline with age, the study revealed that mental and spiritual well-being often remain strong. In fact, among those aged 65 and older, spiritual health emerged as the most positive dimension of overall well-being. This suggests that inner peace, personal growth and a sense of connection to something greater than oneself can deeply enrich life in later years. The survey further highlighted the impact of economic status and community involvement on well-being. Interestingly, people in low- and middle-income economies generally reported better overall health than those in high-income countries. However, among people in high-income economies, those actively engaged in work, volunteering or community activities reported higher levels of well-being — highlighting the importance of purpose and social contribution in healthy aging. This suggests that meaningful community engagement can significantly enhance the aging experience, regardless of economic status. The survey also found that volunteering, in particular, had a notably positive impact on future health, highlighting the importance of contributing to society and maintaining a sense of purpose — even after retirement. Founded in 2018 and officially inaugurated in 2022, the Saudi Hevolution Foundation is the world's largest organization dedicated to healthy aging. Operating under the direct supervision of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the foundation has an annual budget of $1 billion to support research and develop treatments aimed at extending healthy lifespans. It funds research projects lasting two to five years, with up to $1 million in support per project, and invests in biotechnology with contributions of up to $20 million. So far, the foundation has backed 25 projects within Saudi Arabia and 225 international initiatives in the same field. To create a world where everyone can age healthier and happier, a collaborative effort is required — from regulators, communities, and investors — to meet the needs of older adults and help them lead fulfilling lives. This includes promoting a positive view of aging, not as a passive end-of-life stage, but as a meaningful chapter of continued growth, engagement and purpose. It is essential to challenge and reverse the outdated stereotype of aging as a time of decline. Instead, aging should be seen as a phase rich with opportunities to learn, contribute and pass on knowledge to younger generations — building a more developed and forward-looking society that does not repeat the same patterns with each generation. Complementary medicine also plays a supportive role in healthy aging, contributing to prevention and improved quality of life through safe, natural treatments. This aligns with Saudi Arabia's broader vision of becoming a leading destination for global health tourism. Ultimately, by adopting a comprehensive and inclusive approach to healthy aging, we can build a world where everyone has the chance to live a long, healthy and fulfilling life. • Saad Majdy Baslom has more than 10 years' experience in health tourism, wellness services, management, regulation and policy as a technical affairs director in complementary medicine. He holds a leadership and management certificate from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a doctorate in traditional Chinese medicine, and master's degrees in Chinese herbology and acupuncture.
Globe and Mail
06-06-2025
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Takeaways from AP's report on the business interests of Trump's surgeon general pick
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump's pick to be U.S. surgeon general has repeatedly said the nation's medical and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health. Yet as Dr. Casey Means has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of products in ways that put money in her own pocket. The Associated Press found Means, who has carved out a niche in the wellness industry, set up deals with an array of businesses. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found. Means, 37, has said she recommends products that she has personally vetted and uses herself. Still, experts said her business entanglements raise concerns about conflicting interests for an aspiring surgeon general, a role responsible for giving Americans the best scientific information on how to improve their health. Here are some takeaways from the AP's reporting. Growing an audience, and selling products Means, 37, earned her medical degree from Stanford University, but she dropped out of her residency program in 2018, and her license to practice is inactive. She said she saw firsthand how 'broken and exploitative the healthcare system is" and turned to alternative approaches to address what she has described as widespread metabolic dysfunction driven largely by poor nutrition and an overabundance of ultra-processed foods. She co-founded Levels, a nutrition, sleep and exercise-tracking app that can also give users insights from blood tests and continuous glucose monitors. The company charges $199 per year for an app subscription and an additional $184 per month for glucose monitors. Though scientists debate whether continuous glucose monitors are beneficial for people without diabetes, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted their use as a precursor to making certain weight-loss drugs available to patients. With more than 825,000 followers on Instagram and a newsletter that she has said reached 200,000 subscribers, Means has a direct line to an audience interested in health, nutrition and wellness. Many companies, including Amazon, have affiliate marketing programs in which people with substantial social media followings can sign up to receive a percentage of sales or some other benefit when someone clicks through and buys a product using a special individualized link or code shared by the influencer. Means has used such links to promote various products sold on Amazon. Among them are books, including the one she co-wrote, 'Good Energy"; beauty products; cardamom-flavored dental floss; organic jojoba oil; sunglasses; a sleep mask; a silk pillowcase; fitness and sleep trackers; protein powder and supplements. She also has shared links to products sold by other companies that included 'affiliate' or 'partner' coding. The products include an AI-powered sleep system and the prepared food company Daily Harvest, for which she curated a 'metabolic health collection.' On a 'My Faves' page that was taken down from her website shortly after Trump picked her, Means wrote that some links 'are affiliate links and I make a small percentage if you buy something after clicking them.' It's not clear how much money Means has earned from her affiliate marketing, partnerships and other agreements. Daily Harvest did not return messages seeking comment, and Means said she could not comment on the record during the confirmation process. Disclosing conflicts Influencers who endorse products in exchange for something of value are required by the the Federal Trade Commission to disclose it every time. But most consumers still don't realize that a personality recommending a product might make money if people click through and buy, said University of Minnesota professor Christopher Terry. While Means did disclose some relationships like newsletter sponsors, the AP found she wasn't consistent. For example, a 'Clean Personal & Home Care Product Recommendations' guide she links to from her website contains two dozen affiliate or partner links and no disclosure that she could profit from any sales. Means has said she invested in Function Health, which provides subscription-based lab testing for $500 annually. Of the more than a dozen online posts the AP found in which Means mentioned Function Health, more than half did not disclose she had any affiliation with the company. Though the 'About' page on her website discloses the affiliation, that's not enough, experts said. She is required to disclose any material connection she has to a company any time she promotes it. Representatives for Function Health did not return messages seeking comment. While the disclosure requirements are rarely enforced by the FTC, Means should have been informing her readers of any connections regardless of whether she was violating any laws, said Olivier Sylvain, a Fordham Law School professor, previously a senior advisor to the FTC chair. 'What you want in a surgeon general, presumably, is someone who you trust to talk about tobacco, about social media, about caffeinated alcoholic beverages, things that present problems in public health,' Sylvain said, adding, 'Should there be any doubt about claims you make about products?' Potential conflicts pose new ethical questions Past surgeons general have faced questions about their financial entanglements, prompting them to divest from certain stocks or recuse themselves from matters involving their business relationships for a period of time. Means hasn't yet gone through a Senate confirmation hearing and has not yet announced the ethical commitments she will make for the role. Emily Hund, author of 'The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media,' said as influencer marketing becomes more common, it is raising more ethical questions — like what past influencers who enter government should do to avoid the appearance of a conflict. 'This is like a learning moment in the evolution of our democracy,' Hund said. 'Is this a runaway train that we just have to get on and ride, or is this something that we want to go differently?'
Associated Press
06-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Takeaways from AP's report on the business interests of Trump's surgeon general pick
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump's pick to be U.S. surgeon general has repeatedly said the nation's medical and food systems are corrupted by special interests and people out to make a profit at the expense of Americans' health. Yet as Dr. Casey Means has criticized scientists, medical schools and regulators for taking money from the food and pharmaceutical industries, she has promoted dozens of products in ways that put money in her own pocket. The Associated Press found Means, who has carved out a niche in the wellness industry, set up deals with an array of businesses. In some cases, she promoted companies in which she was an investor or adviser without consistently disclosing the connection, the AP found. Means, 37, has said she recommends products that she has personally vetted and uses herself. Still, experts said her business entanglements raise concerns about conflicting interests for an aspiring surgeon general, a role responsible for giving Americans the best scientific information on how to improve their health. Here are some takeaways from the AP's reporting. Growing an audience, and selling products Means, 37, earned her medical degree from Stanford University, but she dropped out of her residency program in 2018, and her license to practice is inactive. She said she saw firsthand how 'broken and exploitative the healthcare system is' and turned to alternative approaches to address what she has described as widespread metabolic dysfunction driven largely by poor nutrition and an overabundance of ultra-processed foods. She co-founded Levels, a nutrition, sleep and exercise-tracking app that can also give users insights from blood tests and continuous glucose monitors. The company charges $199 per year for an app subscription and an additional $184 per month for glucose monitors. Though scientists debate whether continuous glucose monitors are beneficial for people without diabetes, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has promoted their use as a precursor to making certain weight-loss drugs available to patients. With more than 825,000 followers on Instagram and a newsletter that she has said reached 200,000 subscribers, Means has a direct line to an audience interested in health, nutrition and wellness. Many companies, including Amazon, have affiliate marketing programs in which people with substantial social media followings can sign up to receive a percentage of sales or some other benefit when someone clicks through and buys a product using a special individualized link or code shared by the influencer. Means has used such links to promote various products sold on Amazon. Among them are books, including the one she co-wrote, 'Good Energy"; beauty products; cardamom-flavored dental floss; organic jojoba oil; sunglasses; a sleep mask; a silk pillowcase; fitness and sleep trackers; protein powder and supplements. She also has shared links to products sold by other companies that included 'affiliate' or 'partner' coding. The products include an AI-powered sleep system and the prepared food company Daily Harvest, for which she curated a 'metabolic health collection.' On a 'My Faves' page that was taken down from her website shortly after Trump picked her, Means wrote that some links 'are affiliate links and I make a small percentage if you buy something after clicking them.' It's not clear how much money Means has earned from her affiliate marketing, partnerships and other agreements. Daily Harvest did not return messages seeking comment, and Means said she could not comment on the record during the confirmation process. Disclosing conflicts Influencers who endorse products in exchange for something of value are required by the the Federal Trade Commission to disclose it every time. But most consumers still don't realize that a personality recommending a product might make money if people click through and buy, said University of Minnesota professor Christopher Terry. While Means did disclose some relationships like newsletter sponsors, the AP found she wasn't consistent. For example, a 'Clean Personal & Home Care Product Recommendations' guide she links to from her website contains two dozen affiliate or partner links and no disclosure that she could profit from any sales. Means has said she invested in Function Health, which provides subscription-based lab testing for $500 annually. Of the more than a dozen online posts the AP found in which Means mentioned Function Health, more than half did not disclose she had any affiliation with the company. Though the 'About' page on her website discloses the affiliation, that's not enough, experts said. She is required to disclose any material connection she has to a company any time she promotes it. Representatives for Function Health did not return messages seeking comment. While the disclosure requirements are rarely enforced by the FTC, Means should have been informing her readers of any connections regardless of whether she was violating any laws, said Olivier Sylvain, a Fordham Law School professor, previously a senior advisor to the FTC chair. 'What you want in a surgeon general, presumably, is someone who you trust to talk about tobacco, about social media, about caffeinated alcoholic beverages, things that present problems in public health,' Sylvain said, adding, 'Should there be any doubt about claims you make about products?' Potential conflicts pose new ethical questions Past surgeons general have faced questions about their financial entanglements, prompting them to divest from certain stocks or recuse themselves from matters involving their business relationships for a period of time. Means hasn't yet gone through a Senate confirmation hearing and has not yet announced the ethical commitments she will make for the role. Emily Hund, author of 'The Influencer Industry: The Quest for Authenticity on Social Media,' said as influencer marketing becomes more common, it is raising more ethical questions — like what past influencers who enter government should do to avoid the appearance of a conflict. 'This is like a learning moment in the evolution of our democracy,' Hund said. 'Is this a runaway train that we just have to get on and ride, or is this something that we want to go differently?' ___ Swenson reported from New York.
