HCM CITY — The Asia-Pacific is the fastest aging region of the world with over 200 million people expected to move into the ranks of the elderly (aged 65 years and above) between now and 2030, according to the Asia Pacific Risk Centre.

"With rapidly aging populations posing unprecedented social and economic challenges in the region, we believe that consumers should be educated on the need to start taking active steps towards healthy aging through improving nutrition and physical activity," said Stephen Conchie, senior vice president and managing director for Herbalife Nutrition Asia Pacific.

Herbalife Nutrition recently released findings from its 2018 Asia-Pacific Healthy Aging Survey.

Conducted in August with 5,500 respondents aged 40 and above in 11 markets including Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Taiwan, Thailand and Việt Nam, the survey uncovered insights into the meaning of healthy aging and the importance of lifestyle changes for healthy aging, as well as key motivators and influencers for healthy aging.

The survey revealed that 66 per cent of Asia Pacific consumers define the meaning of healthy aging as "being physically and mentally active as I age".

While aging is an inevitable process, 92 per cent of respondents believe that active steps can be taken to help them age healthily. At least 76 per cent of them have already started taking steps towards healthy aging.

However, a much smaller group of Asia Pacific consumers believe that one should start healthy aging early, with slightly more than half (54 per cent) agreeing that the right age to start taking steps towards healthy aging is between 40 and 45.

When asked about the most important lifestyle change to enable healthy aging, 81 per cent of respondents chose "making better nutrition choices" ahead of "engaging in more regular physical activity" (75 per cent) and "engaging in more mentally stimulating activity" (71 per cent).

In terms of the type of supplements that Asia-Pacific consumers are currently taking, the survey revealed that the majority of their supplement consumption centred around multivitamins (75 per cent) and calcium (53 per cent).

However, only three in 10 are consuming protein as part of their supplement mix for healthy aging. With protein being a key nutrient that supports the development of muscles for healthy aging when combined with an active lifestyle, findings indicate the role of protein in supporting healthy aging is undervalued.

The survey also uncovered three key motivators to encourage Asia Pacific consumers to make better nutrition choices for healthy aging. These include having a better understanding of the role of good nutrition in healthy aging (66 per cent); ease of access to healthy aging food options and products (46 per cent); and availability of friends and family who are on the same healthy aging journey (35 per cent). — VNS