Cambridge (LabNews Media LLC) – Current guidelines on physical activity and protein intake are set too low and aim only to prevent deficiency. To truly extend the healthspan – the years lived in good physical and mental condition – significantly higher values are necessary. This is argued by British scientist Chris Macdonald in a perspective article published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition (DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2026.1853124).
Macdonald criticizes that existing recommendations are primarily based on data from the 1990s and are mainly aimed at sedentary populations. However, newer studies show that higher volumes and intensities of exercise, as well as higher protein intake, bring significant additional benefits.
For example, a combination of endurance and strength training is associated with a reduction in overall mortality of up to 40 percent. Strength training is considered one of the most effective measures against sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) and reduces the risk of falls by up to 60 percent, as well as the risk of fractures by over 80 percent. At the same time, higher protein intake (well above current recommendations) improves muscle building, recovery, and quality of life – even in older people and pregnant women.
The author calls on governments to fundamentally revise the guidelines and shift from purely minimum recommendations to recommendations that promote an optimal healthspan. This also includes better communication so that the population actually implements the new goals.
“Current guidelines miss the mark in supporting people to stay strong, independent, and cognitively sharp,” Macdonald writes. A greater focus on higher amounts of movement and protein could prevent avoidable functional decline and reduce the burden of chronic diseases.
The article advocates for the dynamic and evidence-based further development of guidelines, with a stronger focus on promoting resilience and quality of life.
