SINGAPORE \u2013 A new study has revealed critical gaps in preventive health and lifestyle habits even as Singapore is on track to become a<\/p>\n super-aged society by 2030<\/p>\n <\/a>. Despite strong support for pro-health policies, their everyday adoption among older adults remains limited. <\/p>\n The findings suggest that beyond medical access, building a healthier ageing population requires an environment that makes healthy choices easier and part of daily lives. <\/p>\n Researchers at the SMU Centre for Research on Successful Ageing (Rosa) polled 7,056 Singaporeans between the ages of 53 and 80 in August 2025. The study, Living Well: The Built, Lived, And Social Determinants Of Well-being, draws on data from the Singapore Life Panel (SLP), a nationally representative longitudinal survey that has been conducted since 2015.<\/p>\n The survey found that over 90 per cent of respondents indicated that they support preventive healthcare initiative <\/p>\n Healthier SG<\/p>\n <\/a>. Similarly, more than 90 per cent of them said that having regular health screenings is important. Slightly more than half have enrolled into Healthier SG, and a fifth intend to do so.<\/p>\n While there is increasing health awareness among older adults, usage of health-related services, however, is limited. <\/p>\n Among those who signed up for Healthier SG, annual health screening and health or medical reviews are the most widely used. However, referrals to allied-health professionals, community exercise or wellness classes, and lifestyle or nutrition advice appear under-utilised. This suggests that there is a need to increase their awareness of preventive health and wellness services available in the community.<\/p>\n While Healthier SG also encourages continuity of care where individuals work with a general practitioner to take charge of their health, more than 80 per cent of respondents said they will still seek other doctors even if they enrolled in the programme, mostly to get a second opinion or specialised care for various health conditions. <\/p>\n Presenting the findings at Rosa\u2019s 5th annual symposium on Successful Ageing\u00a0on Nov 19, Rosa\u2019s director, Professor Paulin Straughan, said that while older adults want to take charge of their health, they need the right systems and surroundings to do so.<\/p>\n \u201cHealthy ageing isn\u2019t only about medical care, it\u2019s about building neighbourhoods, communities and routines that make living well part of everyday life,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n When it comes to lifestyle behaviours, the survey revealed that\u00a0over half of the respondents engage in some form of vigorous or moderate physical activity, but about 30 per cent of older adults do not engage in any activity at all. <\/p>\n In terms of dietary patterns, fast-food consumption averaged about once weekly among respondents, while meals at hawker centres averaged five times a week. <\/p>\n