Australia
The climate and opportunity for outdoor living in Australia encourages an active lifestyle. The country is also well known for sports and there are plenty of opportunities for expats to join in. Numerous national parks and beaches provide many places to get some fresh air and exercise making the land Down Under one of the healthiest places to live in the world.
The Population Health Division, in the Australian Department of Health, is very active. The division is constantly promoting nutrition and healthy living messages. The Healthy Weight website is a useful public resource published by the Australian Government.
According to a recent study, the healthiest places in Australia were Sydney’s Eastern’s suburbs and inner Melbourne where 30% of the population is physically active. Overall, the country’s healthiest residents tend to live in Australia’s main cities.
Japan
Japan is one of the healthiest places to live in the world and its residents have a very long life expectancy. For men, it is currently 80.5 years and for women 86.83 years. This is partly down to a combination of diet and exercise. The Japanese love for walking provides an important health boost, especially for its older residents. Tai chi and cycling are also popular and a large proportion of the population are exercising regularly.
The Japanese diet consists of a lot of tofu, seafood and sea vegetables, all healthy low fat foods. Seaweed also has powerful antioxidants which help to ward off disease.
New research also shows that the longevity is also partly due to investments in public health by the government and free public health insurance. Furthermore, other cultural factors such as attitudes to hygiene and the general health consciousness of the nation. Health screening is often completed on an annual basis including for children.
Switzerland
Switzerland has a high quality healthcare system. It also has plenty of opportunities for fresh air and exercise with easy access to take part in hiking, skiing and climbing among other outdoor sports.
Iceland
Low levels of pollution due to the use of geo-thermal energy and a high standard of living mean that Iceland is one of the healthiest places to live in the world. The diet is healthy, featuring a lot of seafood. Strong social ties and gender equality are also factors which contribute to providing a positive and healthy environment for the country’s residents.
Hong Kong
Hong Kong has a lot to offer health conscious expats and is often top of many healthy city rankings. A local tradition is the dawn workout, with many residents practicing tai chi or walking and swimming at this time.
