This article is part of an ongoing webinar series, “Life is a Revolution”, focused on the life milestones with the biggest impact on women and their finances. In this article, we take a closer look at women’s health, wellness, and financial planning, with a focus on safeguarding a brighter future.
Interested to learn more? We invite you to join us on Thursday, 15th May at 7 PM, where we’ll be speaking with Manisha Morgan, Nutritionist and Personal Trainer at Manisha Your Nutritionist, and Joanne Wormald, Director at Select Training CIC and joined by Client Manager, Farida Hassanali.
Investment and research into women’s health have taken a back seat for centuries, resulting in a grave disparity in women’s health outcomes today.
- The UK has the largest gender health gap among G20 countries, ranking 12th globally.
- Women in the UK spend 25% more of their lives in poor health compared to men, despite having a longer overall life expectancy.
- Women are 50% more likely than men to receive an incorrect initial diagnosis for heart attacks and 70% more likely to die within a month of one.
- Just 2.5% of publicly funded research is dedicated solely to reproductive health, despite one in three women experiencing related issues.
Despite this, or perhaps in spite of it, practitioners are coming to the fore to equip women with the tools, expertise, and guidance to prioritise their health, embrace their bodies, and chart a course for true wellness.
In this article, we take a closer look at women’s health today and how to plan for a long, healthy, and enriching life.
Nutrition and movement: the route to longevity
The adage is true; health is truly wealth. And, few levers are so powerful for good health as nutrition and movement.
For women, investing in diet can add up to 8.6 years of life expectancy, while engaging in regular physical activity can extend life expectancy by 6.5 years for women without chronic conditions, and 7.6 years for those with multiple health issues.
Despite these benefits, research indicates that women generally engage in less occupational physical activity than men, with research from BMJ journal highlighting that manual occupations, which are more physically demanding, are predominantly held by men.
This highlights the need for greater movement beyond work routines. Small, sustainable habits, like incorporating a 10-minute strength routine, increasing plant diversity in diets, or walking 6,000 to 10,000 steps a day, can dramatically reduce health risks, increase life expectancy, and overall improve one’s quality of life.
Reproductive health in later life: the latest research
Recent research paints a sobering picture of the state of women’s reproductive health in later life across the UK.
- Menopause drives around 10% of women to leave the workforce entirely, with over half requiring time off, contributing to an estimated £1.5 billion loss to businesses each year.
- Despite its far-reaching impact, 75% of UK workplaces still lack dedicated menopause support policies.
- Long-term reproductive health conditions such as endometriosis further complicate circumstances for women, with diagnosis delays averaging nearly nine years while contributing to diminished financial earnings.
Despite these reports, women and female-focused medical professionals are fighting back to ensure women have the resources and knowledge to truly flourish in their later years.
This includes dramatic improvements in how menopause is managed, campaigning for increased research into women’s reproductive health, and greater strides in supporting working women through reproductive health shifts.
The mindset shift: embracing mid-life
Mid-life is no longer being seen as a period of decline but increasingly as a moment of growth, reinvention, and fulfilment for women.
Research echoes this sentiment, showing that many women become more confident, experience greater clarity, and face liberation from the anxieties of earlier life during their forties and beyond.
Women also often enter a professional renaissance of sorts, with many choosing to start businesses and pursue ambitions they had previously deferred.
At the heart of this is a mindset shift, with women realising that mid-life and onwards is the exact moment to turn a life of hard-earned wisdom into a future worth planning for.
Health is wealth: the impact of financial planning
True well-being in mid-life and beyond is built on more than just good health; it is deeply tied to financial security.
For women navigating evolving relationships, career changes, and shifting health needs, a solid financial foundation is not a luxury – it’s a form of self-care.
That’s why our “Life is a Revolution” webinar series demonstrates the relationship between financial planning and a fulfilling life packed with enriching relationships and long-lasting health.
Eager to enter life’s next chapter with your best foot forward?
Join us on Thursday, the 15th of May, from 7 to 8 pm, to hear from expert nutritionists, personal trainers, and financial planners – all focused on keeping you strong, healthy, and financially prepared for the years ahead.
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