I saw a mention in the paper the other day about a website called BlueZones.com and am glad I checked it out. Skimming the home page I've concluded that a guy wrote a book about what he calls Blue Zones, the places in the world where people seem to live the longest.
All the other sections on the site support that goal by offering "daily, practical tips and up-to-the-minute research on health and aging." I won't read any of it because it's pretty obvious to most adults, even me, what is good for us and what is bad for us and we make those choices every day, already knowing the risks and benefits. Do I know walking is better than driving? Green beans are healthier than milkshakes? Of course.
What I wanted to find and did, was the Vitality Compass, a 35 question quiz that promises to be "the most accurate life estimator ever," unless you get hit by a car coming through the window at the Starbucks where you are WiFiing the survey, I guess. Bet the quiz didn't see that one coming.
So I took the test answering predictable questions about body type, age, race, habits (both physical and mental) and guess what? I should live to be 90.6. They didn't ask about family members, but that is, I think, fairly consistent with the age many of my relatives lived to be.
My today age given my lifestyle was 41.9 which is less than my actual age, my healthy life expectancy was 79.3 meaning my last ten years are gonna suck, and I could apparently add 4.6 years by "optimizing my lifestyle." That is the one that must be site's moneymaker but I did not click on the link to meet my Vitality Coach however I'm sure he's selling pills, exercise equipment or Martian water.
If you go there, how did you do? Will I be the last man standing at age 90 or will there still be readers of this blog?
Wow. Interesting quiz. My biological is 30.2 (less than what I am), my life expectancy is 95.3 (damn that is a long time), and my healthy life expectancy is 82 (someone pull the plug).
Thank you for not haven't corpses in the blog today.
Posted by: HeatherMichelle | April 03, 2008 at 04:54 AM
I wouldn't put too much stock in these quiz's. According to my high school alumni association, I've already outlived roughly thirty of my class. I'm sure many of them would have scored higher than me on the quiz.
I'm going for quality of life, not quantity.
Posted by: brother john | April 03, 2008 at 06:14 AM
I am 26...life expectancy 79.5...healthy life expectancy 62.7...guess i better change some habits (fast food, salt)
Posted by: Raul | April 03, 2008 at 06:35 AM
According the Vitality Compass I should have expired 4.6 years ago – Bean, did I die and is this hell?
Posted by: Ken | April 03, 2008 at 06:59 AM
I call BS - No way in Hell I will ever come close to 96.6 especially in Los Angeles.
Posted by: db | April 03, 2008 at 08:09 AM
I'm biologically 22, woo hoo only 2 yrs under my real age, but it informed me that after 24 I won't be healthy! WTF, fine i'll get back in the gym and i'll eat some more broccoli.
Posted by: Liz | April 03, 2008 at 09:33 AM
As a smoker for the last 25 years, who doesn't exercise very much and recently separated I was pleasantly surprised to see that I'm expected to be around 'til I'm 79 - way more than I expected. Maybe I can trade off a couple of years and up my smoking and stop exercising completely?
Posted by: Perkins | April 03, 2008 at 09:36 AM
BS on this Vitality crap. My biological age is exactly my age at the moment, my life expectancy is 79.5. What the hell? I don't smoke, don't drink, don't eat much fast food, do eat a lot of fruits and veggies and I only get to 79.5? My grandpa passed away a few years ago at 104, so I am not going to sweat this internet quiz.
Posted by: Chrissy | April 03, 2008 at 09:42 AM
Interesting site, Bean. My biological age is 36.6 (I'm just over 37). Life expectancy is 83.1 but healthy life expectancy is only 71.5. BUT I could add 10.3 years by changing my lifestyle a bit. You don't realize how unhealthy you are until you get asked how much fast food you eat. :(
Posted by: EditThis | April 03, 2008 at 11:34 AM
I only scored 81.5 years...I eat too much salty food!
68.5 healthy years
oh well...(my even-keeled emotions about such matters will compensate for my love of salt and chocolate!)
Posted by: Phil | April 03, 2008 at 03:01 PM
By the way, shouldn't the survey include details about sex? Seriously, I'm just askin'...it seems like it would have an effect one way or another!
Posted by: Phil | April 03, 2008 at 03:03 PM
89.2 is my life expectancy, healthy til 81.4 (guess I should save up for assisted living); my biological age is 41.7 although I'm 45.4 - by the way how do you divide 12 months into 10 decimal places... also I was able to register with a fake email, so I won't be getting any vitality coach spam :)
Posted by: Rochelle | April 03, 2008 at 04:38 PM
Okay, I'm hanging around until 92, but the last 10 years are gonna be iffy...but I came out 5 years younger than I am, so I've got that going for me. Thanks Rochelle for the email idea.
Posted by: d in the oc | April 03, 2008 at 05:46 PM
I must confess that I'm still not over being rickrolled by you on April 1! I now read the comments first and I'm still afraid to click the link. You sneaky little asshat!!
Love ya
Posted by: Kari | April 03, 2008 at 09:31 PM
Well, I'm living to 91, so if Donna is nice enough to put us in the same rest home maybe we could play bingo together.
Posted by: Casey | April 04, 2008 at 07:41 AM
My today age is 33.5, more than 2 years younger than I really am! My life expectancy is 85.8, but I'll only be healthy until 70.6. Why would I want to add 8.9 years to the 15 miserable ones at the end??
Posted by: Jeanie | April 05, 2008 at 03:13 PM