The UK’s chief medical officer, Sir Chris Whitty, has given evidence to the Health and Social Care Committee this morning (29 October) on boosting physical activity in older people.

Whitty gave evidence on how to increase physical activity among older people to promote healthy ageing as the Health and Social Care Committee kicks off its inquiry into healthy ageing.

Sir Muir Gray and representatives from Age UK, Dr Lis Boulton, and the Centre for Ageing Better, Dr Carole Easton, also gave evidence on the issues caused by inactivity among older people and the importance of exercise to address inequalities in healthy life expectancy.

Whitty authored a report on the subject in 2023 that called for the government to focus on maximising independence and minimising the time spent in ill health between reaching older age and the end of life.

The Active Lives Survey in 2024 showed that rates of activity drop as people progress from nearing retirement to end of life. The proportion of people 55–74-year-old doing 30 minutes or more exercise a week was 75 per cent, dropping to 60 per cent between 75 and 84, and just 37 per cent for 85s and over.

In 2018, Public Health England estimated that the cost of treating older people with conditions and injuries related to muscle and bone weakness amounted to £2.5 billion annually.

In the second panel, Gray, Boulton and Easton spoke about the barriers which exist for older people to be active.

Boulton said that the language used is important – sport and exercise can be offputting, while movement is much more inclusive.

Exercise opportunities must be fun and enjoyable, but this doesn’t look the same for everyone. Some people might like a class and a coffee, some people prefer a solo dog walk.

There also needs to be someone there to welcome them to facilities, and easy access with car parking and bus stops nearby.

The panelists said the challenges of an ageing society need to be taken seriously by Government, ideally with a Commissioner in the Cabinet Office driving a cross-government strategy.

Gray called for NHS drug budgets to be diverted towards therapy budgets.