Evidence Brief: Living Well Today – Aging Healthily Tomorrow: How We Can Gain More Healthy Years”

Successful aging encompasses more than simply achieving a high life expectancy—it is about growing older in good physical, mental, and social health. From this multidimensional perspective, successful aging involves well-being across all three domains and results from lifelong processes. Research shows that the foundation for healthy years is laid in midlife, long before health limitations become apparent. For health promotion organizations, it is crucial to understand which factors foster successful aging, how effective interventions are, and what barriers hinder access to health-promoting measures. This presentation summarizes findings from three systematic reviews addressing the following questions: 1. Determinants of successful aging: Which modifiable factors related to lifestyle and psychological well-being influence the likelihood of aging in good health? 2. Effectiveness of health promotion: Can health promotion interventions for middle-aged adults demonstrably lead to sustainable behavior changes and health gains? 3. Barriers and facilitators: What obstacles prevent the adoption and maintenance of health-promoting behaviors, and which factors support individuals in doing so? Which groups are particularly hard to reach? The evidence synthesis is based on three systematic reviews encompassing results from 117 primary studies. All reviews followed a predefined protocol with clear inclusion and exclusion criteria, systematic literature searches across multiple databases, independent study selection, critical quality assessment (risk of bias), and structured evidence synthesis. The presentation provides concrete, evidence-based recommendations for legitimizing and optimizing health promotion programs: 1. Targeted program design: Understanding determinants with proven positive effects on aging well (e.g., nutrition, physical activity, psychological well-being) enables focused interventions. 2. Demonstrable effectiveness: Even short interventions (as brief as 2.5 days) can lead to lasting changes in health-promoting behaviors and positively impact participants’ well-being and quality of life. 3. Overcoming access barriers: Identifying obstacles (e.g., lack of time, cost, low motivation) and facilitators (e.g., social support, integration into daily routines) helps make programs more accessible and inclusive. 4. Promoting equity: Raising awareness of vulnerable groups (e.g., individuals with low socioeconomic status, men, ethnic minorities) can initiate measures to improve participation. The project was funded by the Lower Austria Health and Social Fund (NÖGUS).