MPs call for shift to prevention through physical activity in ageing population
A new report from the Health and Social Care Committee, published 22nd May 2026, warns that physical inactivity among older people is a major driver of ill health and must be treated as a core priority across the NHS and wider society.
The report highlights that while people are living longer, many are spending more years in poor health, with low levels of physical activity contributing to conditions such as frailty, dementia and chronic disease. Increasing activity, particularly among the least active, could help prevent illness, reduce inequalities and improve quality of life.
Despite strong evidence, MPs say physical activity is still treated as an “optional extra” rather than a key intervention, even though it can be as effective as some drug treatments in preventing and managing long-term conditions.
The committee is calling for a major shift towards prevention, including embedding conversations about physical activity into routine clinical care, expanding access to evidence-based exercise programmes, and strengthening social prescribing to connect patients with community support.
More widely, the report argues that supporting healthy ageing requires action beyond the health system. It calls for national leadership to promote active lifestyles, improved community infrastructure, and cross-government collaboration to remove barriers to physical activity.
Overall, the report warns that without urgent action, inactivity will drive rising demand on the NHS and social care system, and that prioritising physical activity offers a cost-effective way to improve health outcomes and support more people to age well.
Read the full report below.
Source: Healthy Ageing: physical activity in an ageing society
