enduring a lifetime of hormonal and biological changes that are no less than extraordinary. And it seems, the more we learn about women’s health, the more amazing this life journey is.
But at the same time, the health issues that women now face are changing as women around the world embrace a modern lifestyle in which they not only bear and raise children, but also work and build careers. This do-it-all mentality, especially in developed regions like the European Union, has brought a new era in which women are now subject to greater stress and a range of health issues that may be impacted by their lifestyle choices.
Women’s bodies go through major changes throughout their lives, leading to differences in health concerns for varying age groups, noted Vanessa Azevedo, marketing manager from IFF Health.
“During times of physiological change, women are more susceptible to mental health issues like depression, anxiety and eating disorders,” she said.
The good news is that women in Europe are living longer and healthier lives than ever before, according to a World Health Organization (WHO) report, and, for the most part, they enjoy better health and live longer than women in other parts of the world.
This means that they also make up a growing share of the aging population in Europe, with 70 percent of the people over age 85 being women.1 However, although they live longer than men these additional years are often spent in ill health or disability. This underscores the opportunity and growing interest among women to maintain health and wellbeing as they age. While older women still outnumber men, that gap is beginning to narrow.2 and this suggests that women need to take an active interest in maintaining their activity levels and addressing specific health concerns at ever-younger ages.
More than four in 10 women in Europe aged 18 and above are overweight.3
About 48% of women in Europe experience musculoskeletal pain.4
Ischaemic heart disease and stroke typically cause the greatest burden of death and disability in women over age 65.5.
"Increasingly, people across the globe are taking greater ownership of their health, a long-term, preventative approach as opposed to more reactive treatments of ailments" Azevedo added. "People see health as a crucial enabler in their life and are increasingly feeling more responsible for their own wellbeing. Pressured lives, unprecedented stress, and a 24/7 digital connection are creating new desires to be close to the untapped secrets and forces of nature".
With our growing understanding of how weight, diet, nutritional deficiencies and digestive function can have implications over a lifetime, the need and demand for natural and preventive health solutions will continue to expand. This report follows a woman’s health journey and explores unique health solutions for several key stages of life.
References: 1.World Health Organization (WHO). Regional Office for Europe. “Women’s health and well-being in Europe—Beyond the Mortality Advantage.” 2016. 2.Eurostat Statistical Books. “Aging Europe: Looking at the Lives of Older People in the EU.” 2019 Edition. 3.HealthEuropa. “Europe struggling to deal with burden of chronic digestive disease.” May 15, 2018. 4.Farioli A, et al. “Muscoloskeletal pain in Europe: Role of personal, occupational and social risk factors.” Scand J Work Environ Health. 2014 January;40(1):36-46. 5.Ibid. WHO. Women’s health and well-being in Europe.
