Alina M Hernandez explains why the longevity industry is poised to revolutionize the course of human history.
As an industry that focuses on extending both lifespan and healthspan, longevity includes a wide range of sectors including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, Preventative Medicine, healthcare (in general) agetech and other emerging areas. Its research pipeline includes cellular and molecular mechanisms of aging, developing therapies to address and prevent age-related diseases, and providing services to improve quality of life as people age.
The conditions are ripe for this revolution driven by an aging global population and the subsequent demand for solutions to age-related challenges.
Yet all of these products and services depend on one single thing: how to get the end-user or the consumer to be compliant with all of the many activities that result in successful outcomes for achieving and maintaining healthspan. This new consumer landscape involves a seemingly endless amount of choices – and confusion – at the point of purchase.
But there is a potential untapped pathway that can connect some important dots and accelerate conditions for success.
What is the relationship between health literacy, behaviour change and positive lifestyle management? And why might the intersection of these be the key to the successful development of the industry through successful individual outcomes – and ultimately, impact?
Let’s have a look.
The ‘prescriptive’ paradox of lifestyle management
Lifestyle management involves making conscious choices about daily habits and routines, and adopting strategies and practices that promote the multiple dimensions of health and wellness including physical, mental and emotional wellness, leading to longer healthspans.
When comparing both the preventative model of health with the acute chronic care model, both are dependent on following a set of directives, advice or orders which depend on certain actions or behaviors being adhered to – over the long term – in order to achieve the desired results.
The challenge is that from a behavioural lens, prescribing lifestyle changes can be ineffective when it relies solely on providing information without addressing the underlying behavioral and social factors that influence a person’s choices.
Simply telling someone to “eat less and move more” often fails because it doesn’t account for individual motivations, barriers, and support systems – all needed for long-term compliance for the adaptation of new behaviours. Effective lifestyle interventions require more nuanced approaches that incorporate behavioral science principles and support individuals in making sustainable changes.
Prescribing lifestyle changes can fall short because of lack of motivation or engagement, ignoring individual circumstances, ignoring upstream detriments, focusing on information over action and failing to provide support and consolidation to the individual.
Lifestyle management needs a collaborative human-centric approach, working with guests/patients to identify their values, address barriers and develop personalized strategies for sustainable lifestyle changes. This includes using techniques from behavioral science, such as motivational interviewing, envisioning and building self-efficacy, to empower individuals to take ownership of their health and wellness.
The advantage of an educated consumer – the role of health literacy
“An educated consumer is our best customer.” This adage, popularized by American businessman, Sy Syms, in the 1980s introduced the idea that customers who understand a product or service’s value are more likely to be satisfied, loyal and make repeat purchases. This idea remains true to this day.
When it comes to promoting the endless choices available in lifestyle management choices, health literacy can play an immense role.
Yet, literacy levels remain alarmingly low. According to the European Health Literacy Study (HLS-EU), the average health literacy level in Europe is generally considered to be limited, with at least 47% of the adult population across several countries having inadequate or problematic health literacy, while in the US, only 12% of adults are considered proficient [1].
According to the World Health Organization, health literacy is “a crucial determinant” of health and a key factor in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3, which focuses on health. Studies have established a link between health literacy and health perception, suggesting that how individuals understand and interpret their health can significantly influence their health behaviours and overall well-being [2,3].
Notably, the evidence available indicates that there are significant sociodemographic factors affecting health literacy, with higher levels observed in women. Additionally, individuals without chronic diseases exhibited higher mean health literacy scores than those with chronic diseases.
The bottomline is that higher health literacy bodes well when used in the pursuit of healthspan. People with higher levels of health literacy are more likely to adopt healthier behaviours and be able to receive and act on health information and services – making them more likely to be a sustainable repeat customer base.
Getting the behaviour to ‘stick’ over the long-haul
It is a well-known fact that behaviors are hard to shift, and what is more, both negative and positive behaviours work with the same mechanism – they are habituated or automated over time.
Although there are various fields involved with positive lifestyle change, Motivational Interviewing (MI) has demonstrated success in supporting lifestyle changes and improving compliance across various health behaviors. It is particularly useful when dealing with behaviors that are influenced by multiple factors and can be tailored to address specific healthspan goals. When combined with Neurometrics, it can track patterns associated with motivation, decision-making and habit formation.
The potential for integration and acceleration with AI
Artificial Intelligence can potentially accelerate management of behavioral change and accelerate its results. It can help tailor interventions and strategies to promote desired behaviors and overcome resistance to change. Additionally, it can enhance training practitioners, providing real-time feedback, and automate aspects of session analysis. These tools can analyze sessions, identify patterns in individual success while leading to more efficient skill development and better outcomes for clients.
This type of behavioural change tool can be invaluable by enhancing motivation, optimizing medical interventions, addressing specific healthspan goals, and fostering sustainable outcomes for lifespan.
The case for systemic impact
Studies across various populations have shown a positive correlation between health literacy and healthy lifestyle behaviors. With broader and sustainable compliance to new behaviors, the ground will have been primed for success.
This can be a game changer in the approach to execution of longevity products and services. Public Health is notoriously slow to bring about any real systemic change, and this leaves the conditions ripe for opportunity. The industry can step into the role of market maker and shift shaper – with far-reaching effects across environmental, social and economic domains.
The industry path to scalability is dependent on volume to work. Can it step up to this unprecedented opportunity? If the longevity space can adapt a systemic thinking approach it has every chance to navigate towards sustainable and predictable outcomes. If successful, we will have arrived truly in the impact space.
About Alina M Hernandez
Alina M Hernandez has spent her career pioneering the intersection of innovation, wellness, and design. As the Founder of the Wellness Innovation Hub, she brings a multi-disciplinary lens to the creation of transformative wellness experiences. Her mission is to reshape the future of wellness by blending cutting-edge design thinking with holistic healing traditions to foster resilience, healthspan and thriving communities.
Recognized as one of GoWell Magazine’s “25 Leading Women in Wellness,” Alina is a Mayo Clinic Certified Health Coach, acclaimed speaker, published author and a sought-after industry innovator. Her expertise spans Translational Medicine, Psychological Development Theories, Somatic Movement and Service/Experience Design – tools she uses to reimagine the guest journey across wellness and hospitality.
She is Partner and Innovation Director of the Touchless Wellness Association, serves on the advisory board for the Gharieni Group and co-chairs the Mental Wellness Initiative at the Global Wellness Institute. A global voice in the wellness field, she has spoken at leading forums including the Forbes Travel Guide, Medical Wellness Congress, SpaLife and the Longevity Med Summit.
Alina is a co-author of the white paper Embracing Tomorrow, Today: The Power of Innovation Through Touchless Wellness, which explores Wellness 3.0 and the digital transformation of health. Her design thinking expertise empowers organizations to future-proof their services through rapid prototyping, human-centered experience design (CX, UX, EX, and UI) and evidence-based strategies for behavior change.
[1] https://academic.oup.com/eurpub/article/25/6/1053/2467145
[2] https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/19371918.2017.1409680
[3] https://literacy.mums.ac.ir/article_18549.html
