Right now, the average life expectancy in Australia is about 84 years for women and 80 for men — one of the highest in the world. Sounds good, right?

But here’s the catch: the average number of healthy years — free from major disease or disability — is significantly lower.

In many cases, people are spending the last 10 to 15 years of their lives battling chronic illness, loneliness, or struggling with mental decline.

So, what does it really mean to live well?

Shouldn’t we be focused on quality of life not just length of life ?

Let’s look at three pillars that determine not just how long we live, but how well:

Mental Health: Depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline are rising — not just in the elderly, but in young adults as well. What can we do to strengthen resilience, connection, and purpose?

Physical Health: Sedentary lifestyles, poor nutrition, and stress are eroding our well-being — even as medicine extends our years. But are we just adding time, or are we adding life to those years?

Social Connection: Study after study shows that loneliness is as dangerous to our health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Relationships matter — not just for happiness, but for survival.

So today, let’s ask the bigger question: Are we living long, or are we living well? And what can we do — practically, personally, and collectively — to build lives filled with energy, connection, and purpose

Our guest today is someone who is focused on these questions And more ……….

Mary-Anne Bennett, from Adelaide Nutrition and Wellbeing.

Mary-Anne is a Clinical Nutritionist, Master NLP Coach has a Bachelor of Health Science in Nutritional and Dietetic Medicine and is a

Women’s Health Expertas well as the host of The Longevity Coach

Podcast