From lifespan to healthspan: How Abu Dhabi and India can make prevention
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This points to a broader question. Health systems are often judged by how long people live, but longevity alone does not reveal whether those extra years are healthy or whether people can continue working, caring for family and participating in daily life.
The gap between lifespan and healthspan also has economic consequences. The Future of Healthy Living, a new whitepaper from Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, models the impact of eliminating behavioural, metabolic and environmental health risks. By 2050, this scenario would add 12 years to global healthy life expectancy at birth and generate an estimated $16.4 trillion in annual global GDP—nearly 9% of projected global GDP1.
These figures represent modelled potential, not forecasts. They illustrate what is at stake rather than predict what will happen. The message, however, is clear: Preventable ill health constrains economies, strains healthcare systems and reduces the years people live independently.
Improving healthspan therefore requires more than asking individuals to make better choices. Governments, health systems and businesses must make those choices easier: Healthier food should be visible and affordable; schools, neighbourhoods, and workplaces should encourage movement; screening should identify risk earlier; and people should receive preventive support before disease becomes harder and more costly to manage.
In February 2026, H.E. Dr Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “We want to make it easier for everyone to eat well, move more and feel supported in managing their health, every day. We aim to empower individuals with the information they need to make informed choices, without compromising personal autonomy or the enjoyment of food.”3
This ambition is reflected in practical measures. Nutri-Mark assigns packaged foods a colour-coded grade from A to E, with a QR code linking shoppers to more information. New supermarket standards change where less healthy products are placed and promoted including at entrances, checkouts and aisle ends, while keeping all products available. In schools, new nutrition and physical-activity requirements aim to establish healthier habits early.
The goal is not to depend on a single campaign or technology, but to build a coordinated portfolio in which food policy, urban environments, education, healthcare and data reinforce one another and evolve as new evidence emerges.
Food labelling illustrates how this exchange could work. India continues to explore approaches to front-of-pack nutrition labelling, while Abu Dhabi has adopted Nutri-Mark's graded system. Neither is the only solution, but comparing shopper responses, the pace of manufacturer reformulation and how effectively each system can be implemented would provide useful evidence for both countries.
More broadly, India offers the scale, digital infrastructure and health-tech ecosystem to deliver prevention widely, while Abu Dhabi demonstrates how a cross-government strategy can align sectors around shared outcomes.
As Lars Hartenstein, Partner and Director of Healthy Longevity at the McKinsey Health Institute, said: “The opportunity to improve health outcomes at scale has never been greater. Achieving that impact will require coordinated action across sectors to address the wider factors that influence health every day, from where people live and work to how they learn and connect.”
For businesses, the priority is to replace one-off wellbeing initiatives with measurable action: Assess product portfolios against clear nutrition standards; test store layouts and workplace programmes while tracking outcomes; and support earlier detection and preventive care. Companies that act early will be better positioned as regulation and consumer expectations increasingly align.
These issues will feature at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, which will be held from 20 to 22 October, where policymakers, clinicians, researchers and business leaders will explore how to turn healthy longevity from aspiration into action. Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi will continue the conversation throughout the year.
Reference(s):
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( Originally published on Oct 16, 2026 ) (This article is generated and published by ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them on [email protected]) Read More News onhealthspanpreventive healthcarefood labelingAbu Dhabi health initiativeIndia nutrition policies
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New modelling suggests that eliminating modifiable health risks could add 12 years to healthy life expectancy at birth by 2050. Realising even part of this potential will require making prevention part of everyday life.
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Loading...×India and Abu Dhabi are both exploring how to make healthier choices easier at the supermarket shelf. In India, there has been growing discussion around front-of-pack warnings on packaged foods high in sugar, salt and fat, while Abu Dhabi has introduced Nutri-Mark, which grades products from A to E. The approaches differ, but their aim is the same: To help people choose better without limiting choice.This points to a broader question. Health systems are often judged by how long people live, but longevity alone does not reveal whether those extra years are healthy or whether people can continue working, caring for family and participating in daily life.
The gap between lifespan and healthspan also has economic consequences. The Future of Healthy Living, a new whitepaper from Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, models the impact of eliminating behavioural, metabolic and environmental health risks. By 2050, this scenario would add 12 years to global healthy life expectancy at birth and generate an estimated $16.4 trillion in annual global GDP—nearly 9% of projected global GDP1.
These figures represent modelled potential, not forecasts. They illustrate what is at stake rather than predict what will happen. The message, however, is clear: Preventable ill health constrains economies, strains healthcare systems and reduces the years people live independently.
Healthspan is shaped beyond the clinic
Many of the strongest influences on health lie outside traditional healthcare. Earlier MHI research found that 19 of the 23 drivers of health sit beyond the formal healthcare system, across areas including education, transport, urban planning, food, technology, employment, and community development2.Live Events
Improving healthspan therefore requires more than asking individuals to make better choices. Governments, health systems and businesses must make those choices easier: Healthier food should be visible and affordable; schools, neighbourhoods, and workplaces should encourage movement; screening should identify risk earlier; and people should receive preventive support before disease becomes harder and more costly to manage.
Turning strategy into everyday action
Abu Dhabi's Healthy Living Strategy, launched in November 2025, shows how this agenda can be organised. More than 28 initiatives unite government entities, businesses and communities across food environments, schools, workplaces, physical activity and preventive healthcare.In February 2026, H.E. Dr Ahmed AlKhazraji, Executive Director of Healthy Living at the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi, said: “We want to make it easier for everyone to eat well, move more and feel supported in managing their health, every day. We aim to empower individuals with the information they need to make informed choices, without compromising personal autonomy or the enjoyment of food.”3
This ambition is reflected in practical measures. Nutri-Mark assigns packaged foods a colour-coded grade from A to E, with a QR code linking shoppers to more information. New supermarket standards change where less healthy products are placed and promoted including at entrances, checkouts and aisle ends, while keeping all products available. In schools, new nutrition and physical-activity requirements aim to establish healthier habits early.
The goal is not to depend on a single campaign or technology, but to build a coordinated portfolio in which food policy, urban environments, education, healthcare and data reinforce one another and evolve as new evidence emerges.
What India and Abu Dhabi can learn from each other
India's opportunity is especially large. The whitepaper estimates that by 2050, modifiable risks will account for 49% of the country's disease burden, representing a potential economic gain of up to 9.8% of GDP under the modelled full risk-elimination scenario4. With challenges spanning nutrition, physical activity, environmental risks and rising obesity, improving healthspan will require coordinated prevention rather than a single intervention.Food labelling illustrates how this exchange could work. India continues to explore approaches to front-of-pack nutrition labelling, while Abu Dhabi has adopted Nutri-Mark's graded system. Neither is the only solution, but comparing shopper responses, the pace of manufacturer reformulation and how effectively each system can be implemented would provide useful evidence for both countries.
More broadly, India offers the scale, digital infrastructure and health-tech ecosystem to deliver prevention widely, while Abu Dhabi demonstrates how a cross-government strategy can align sectors around shared outcomes.
As Lars Hartenstein, Partner and Director of Healthy Longevity at the McKinsey Health Institute, said: “The opportunity to improve health outcomes at scale has never been greater. Achieving that impact will require coordinated action across sectors to address the wider factors that influence health every day, from where people live and work to how they learn and connect.”
A shared agenda for business and health
Healthspan is a business priority as well as a health one. Food companies and retailers influence what reaches shelves and how it is presented. Employers shape how people eat, move and rest for much of the week. Insurers and healthcare providers determine whether prevention and early screening are rewarded. Developers and health-tech companies design the places and tools people use every day.For businesses, the priority is to replace one-off wellbeing initiatives with measurable action: Assess product portfolios against clear nutrition standards; test store layouts and workplace programmes while tracking outcomes; and support earlier detection and preventive care. Companies that act early will be better positioned as regulation and consumer expectations increasingly align.
These issues will feature at the 2026 Abu Dhabi Future Health Summit, which will be held from 20 to 22 October, where policymakers, clinicians, researchers and business leaders will explore how to turn healthy longevity from aspiration into action. Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi will continue the conversation throughout the year.
Reference(s):
- Future-of-Healthy-Living-Whitepaper-Final-Digital.pdf
- Healthy living: A $16.4 trillion opportunity | McKinsey
- Healthy Living oversees implementation of 25 strategic initiatives to support citizens and residents of Abu Dhabi to lead healthier lives
- Future-of-Healthy-Living-Whitepaper-Final-Digital.pdf
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( Originally published on Oct 16, 2026 ) (This article is generated and published by ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them on [email protected]) Read More News onhealthspanpreventive healthcarefood labelingAbu Dhabi health initiativeIndia nutrition policies
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Source: Economic Times — Healthcare/Biotech ↗
Figures reflect the source report and its stated period. This article is for information and is not investment advice.
