Life Span vs Health Span: Why Living Longer Isn’t Enough
We’re living longer than ever before. Advances in medicine, technology, and safety mean that our life span—the number of years we live—continues to increase. But here’s the question that really matters: are we living better?
This is where the idea of health span comes in. Health span refers to the number of years you live with energy, mobility, and freedom from disease—years where you can do the things you love without being limited by pain or illness.
Dr. Peter Attia, a physician focused on longevity, makes a powerful point in his book Outlive—longevity medicine is not about just adding years, but about preparing for what he calls the “Centenarian Decathlon.” This means training now for the physical tasks you want to still do in your 80s and 90s: carrying groceries, getting off the floor, hiking, or playing with your grandchildren.
Unfortunately, for many people, the last decade or two of life are marked by frailty, chronic disease, and dependence on others. The gap between life span and health span is widening. But it doesn’t have to be this way.
Diseases of Behavior
Most of the health problems we face today aren’t simply diseases of chance—they’re diseases of behavior. Chronic illnesses like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity, and even back pain are strongly linked to how we live.
Biomechanist Katy Bowman, in her book Move Your DNA, highlights how modern conveniences have engineered natural movement out of our lives:
We choose to drive instead of walk.
We push our kids in strollers instead of carrying them in our arms.
We load food into carts instead of carrying it on our backs.
We slouch into soft furniture instead of sitting upright and strong.
We wear shoes that restrict our feet, rather than strengthen them.
Technology has given us comfort, but it has also taken away movement. And just like poor food choices eventually lead to poor health, a lack of quality movement leads to pain, stiffness, and dysfunction.
https://keyboard-kumquat-rr4w.squarespace.com/contact
Movement as Nutrition
Here’s the truth: movement, like food, is not optional. Your body requires it every day in order to function properly.
Just like we can suffer from nutrient deficiencies, we can also suffer from movement deficiencies. Stiff joints, aching backs, fatigue, and lack of balance are often signs of “movement hunger”—your body telling you it needs more, and better, movement.
A healthy “movement diet” includes:
Quantity: Enough daily movement—walking, lifting, standing.
Quality: Movements performed with good mechanics and control.
Variety: A full spectrum of movement nutrition: strength, flexibility, balance, endurance.
And just like food, you can’t reduce movement to a single exercise. One stretch or one workout won’t undo years of a sedentary lifestyle. True nourishment comes from the whole pattern of what you do day in and day out.
What Rehab Really Is
Many people think of rehab as something you do only after surgery or a major injury. But real rehab is much more than that.
As Dr. Craig Liebenson explains, “Rehab is training in the presence of injury.” His approach emphasizes empowerment rather than dependency. The goal is not to make patients reliant on endless appointments, but to teach them what they can do for themselves.
Unfortunately, the traditional medical model sometimes puts people on what Liebenson calls a “path of poverty”—disabling them with the idea that they are fragile or sick. Instead, rehab should:
Show people what they can do safely.
Build strength, confidence, and capacity.
Provide tools for long-term self-management.
Symptoms vs Capacity
Here’s something important to understand: we resolve symptoms, not pathology.
Pain is not always a sign of structural damage. More often, it’s a sign that your body’s capacity has been exceeded.
Think about it this way:
If you sit too long, your back aches—not because it’s broken, but because sitting exceeded your body’s tolerance.
If you lift something heavy without training, your shoulder hurts—not because it’s “damaged,” but because you asked more of it than it was ready to handle.
When we build capacity—through strength, mobility, and endurance—symptoms often disappear. When we maintain capacity, symptoms are far less likely to return.
But if capacity is lost through inactivity, or if lifestyle choices repeatedly overload the system, pain will return. That’s why consistency and education matter more than any quick fix.
Practical Tips to Expand Your Health Span
The good news? You have the power to improve your health span at any age. Practical steps, especially for adults 55 and older, include:
Walk Daily – Even short walks improve cardiovascular health, bone density, and mood.
Carry Loads – Carry groceries, lift weights, or pick up your grandchild. Grip strength is a strong predictor of longevity.
Strength Train 2–3x/Week – Maintain muscle, joint stability, and bone health. Stick to basics like squats, pushes, pulls, and carries.
Practice Mobility – Move hips, spine, and shoulders through full ranges regularly.
Sit Smart – Trade the couch slump for upright sitting or floor sitting that challenges posture.
Choose Whole Foods – Reduce processed foods and added sugars; prioritize nutrient-dense meals.
Stay Consistent – Health span is built through the choices you make over decades, not one-time efforts.
Closing Thoughts
Life span is about how long you live. Health span is about how well you live.
The sobering reality is that nearly three in four American adults are overweight or obese (CDC, 2024). This isn’t just about appearance—it’s about the fact that excess weight drives chronic disease, joint pain, and reduced independence. But it’s also a reminder that most of these issues are modifiable.
As Dr. Peter Attia reminds us, the goal is not simply to live longer, but to extend the health span—so the last decade of life looks as good as the first. And as Dr. Craig Liebenson emphasizes, rehab isn’t about treating fragile patients—it’s about empowering people to build resilience and take ownership of their health.
The decisions you make today—around movement, nutrition, and mindset—determine the quality of your future.
👉 Don’t just add years to your life. Add life to your years.
References
Attia, P. (2023). Outlive: The Science and Art of Longevity.Harmony Books.
Bowman, K. (2014). Move Your DNA: Restore Your Health Through Natural Movement. Propriometrics Press.
Liebenson, C. (2014). Rehabilitation as Training. Craig Liebenson Resources.