By Amarachi Okonkwo
For many people, the thought of living to 90 comes with a troubling question: what if those extra years are marked by frailty, declining memory, chronic illness and dependence on others?
At a time when living longer is increasingly possible, health experts say the real challenge is ensuring that people can enjoy those years in good health, with dignity and independence.
This concern took centre stage as Medlyfe Wellness and Longevity Center hosted the soft launch of its longevity, wellness and aesthetic services at Capital Club, Victoria Island, Lagos, advocating early health assessments and sustainable lifestyle changes to help people age better.
The centre emphasised that healthy ageing goes beyond extending lifespan to preserving physical strength, mental alertness and the ability to carry out everyday activities as people grow older.
Speaking during the launch presentation, the Head of Medical Services at Medlyfe, Dr Adedotun Ajelabi, said the goal should be to add quality to the years people live rather than simply increase their lifespan.
“It’s not just about how many years you live; it’s adding life to the number of years that you have,” she said.
Ajelabi noted that people of the same age could experience significantly different health outcomes, with some remaining active and independent while others struggle with declining strength, cognitive function and other age-related challenges.
She explained that changes associated with ageing could begin as early as a person’s 30s, including gradual muscle loss, reduced bone strength, abdominal fat accumulation and alterations in sleep patterns.
According to her, these changes underscore the need for people to pay closer attention to their bodies and seek medical assessments before potential health problems become more serious.
She identified physical activity, balanced nutrition, adequate sleep, stress management and social support as important components of healthy ageing, warning that neglecting these factors could undermine long-term well-being.
“Sleep is one thing that many people just actually leave out, and it’s one of the very important things that we have to take seriously if we want to reduce our rate of ageing,” she said.
Ajelabi also highlighted the roles of functional and regenerative medicine in health optimisation, explaining that functional medicine seeks to identify underlying causes of health problems, while regenerative medicine focuses on approaches intended to repair or restore damaged tissues and functions.
She stressed that longevity requires collaboration across medical specialties and objective assessments to determine individual health needs, rather than relying on a single treatment or approach.
Beyond wrinkles: Understanding how people age
The discussion also challenged common assumptions about ageing, particularly the belief that Black people age more slowly because wrinkles tend to appear later than they do in white people.
Speaking during a panel discussion on metabolism and longevity, moderated by Dr Debo Odulana, founding partner of Consult for Africa, Dr Chinwe Kpaduwa, founder of KP Plastic Surgery, said the emphasis on wrinkles had obscured other visible changes associated with ageing among Black people.
“For years, we’ve been taught that we don’t age, don’t worry. You’ll look 60 when you’re 90,” she said.
Kpaduwa explained that ageing also involves facial fat loss, the descent of soft tissues and changes in skin pigmentation, tone and texture. She noted that these changes could become prominent even when wrinkles were less noticeable.
She further discussed differences in how facial ageing affects men and women, observing that women could experience changes in facial shape as they age, while similar changes in men were sometimes viewed more favourably because of conventional perceptions of masculinity and maturity.
Her presentation highlighted the need for a broader understanding of ageing that goes beyond wrinkles and conventional beauty standards.
Obesity: More than a question of appearance
For people struggling with excess weight, the consequences can extend far beyond how they look or feel about their bodies.
Dr Timi Adenuga, lead bariatric and laparoscopic surgeon, said obesity should be treated as a significant health concern because of its association with complications affecting several organs and body systems.
“Obesity alone is a risk factor for renal problems. Obesity is a standalone risk factor for myocardial infarction,” Adenuga said, referring to kidney problems and heart attacks.
He explained that weight management required more than responding to a patient’s immediate desire to lose weight. Healthcare professionals also needed to help patients understand the broader implications of obesity and make informed decisions about their health.
Adenuga illustrated the challenge with the case of a 60-year-old woman who approached him seeking weight loss but was reluctant to change her body size because she was comfortable with it.
The case, he said, demonstrated the importance of understanding patients’ expectations while explaining the potential health consequences of their choices.
He added that the average age of patients visiting his clinic was about 35, with women accounting for approximately 80 per cent of patients and men 20 per cent. According to him, some men delayed seeking medical attention until health concerns such as hypertension and erectile dysfunction prompted them to seek care.
Keeping African food on the plate
Healthy living, however, does not necessarily require people to abandon familiar meals or adopt restrictive diets that are difficult to maintain.
Ms Gbemi Giwa, founder of the African Fat Loss Method, said Nigerians could manage their weight while continuing to enjoy traditional foods such as jollof rice and egusi soup, provided they paid attention to portions, ingredients and nutritional balance.
“What we’ve essentially done is put it in the African context,” she said, explaining that her approach adapts established weight-management principles to the foods people already eat.
Giwa said many conventional meal plans failed to show people how to apply principles such as calorie control, adequate protein intake and portion management to African diets.
“You don’t necessarily have to give up African food to lose weight, but you need to rebuild your plate,” she said.
She recommended moderating carbohydrate portions, increasing protein intake and including vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods to create more balanced meals.
According to her, sustainable weight management should focus on practical adjustments that people can maintain over time rather than unrealistic restrictions that make healthy eating difficult.
Giwa also observed that some women, particularly those in their 40s, were increasingly pursuing strength and improved physical well-being alongside aesthetic goals.
She said people could develop broader fitness objectives as they experienced the benefits of healthier habits, reinforcing the importance of helping individuals start from their current circumstances and progress at a sustainable pace.
Making self-care work in real life
For people balancing demanding jobs, family responsibilities and other pressures, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can be difficult when self-care is treated as an expensive or time-consuming undertaking.
Mrs Joyce Awosika, founder and chief executive officer of ORÍKÌ Group, urged people to adopt realistic routines that fit into their daily lives, stressing that small, consistent habits could help improve well-being and manage stress.
“Self-care is going to look different for every single one of us, and it needs to fit into your actual life, not your imaginary perfect life,” she said.
Awosika encouraged people to identify activities that helped them feel calm and refreshed, including walking, taking breaks, spending quiet time alone and avoiding immediate phone use in the morning.
Her message was that self-care need not depend on achieving an ideal lifestyle.
Instead, people could begin with simple actions that were practical within their existing routines and responsibilities.
A cautious approach to aesthetics
While aesthetic treatments can help people address concerns about their appearance, Kpaduwa urged patients to approach cosmetic procedures, including Botox, dermal fillers and hair transplants, with caution.
She said she practised cosmetic treatments but preferred a conservative approach, making gradual adjustments rather than pursuing dramatic changes.
“I do believe in these things. I do practise these things. I do them sparingly. I start low and I start slow, very patient,” she said.
According to her, the aim should be to enhance an individual’s appearance without making the results look unnatural or obvious.
“The goal is not again to make you look like you had anything done, but to look the best that you can look for where you are in your life right now,” she said.
The panel also examined mommy makeover procedures, with medical experts stressing the importance of psychological assessment, weight management and coordinated healthcare before women undergo cosmetic surgery to address changes following childbirth.
They distinguished between weight loss and liposuction, explaining that while liposuction removes localised fat deposits, broader weight management requires measures aimed at reducing body weight and improving overall health.
The experts cautioned that cosmetic surgery should not be regarded as a substitute for addressing excess weight or relevant underlying health concerns.
Medical supervision essential for emerging treatments.
On peptides, Ajelabi stressed that their use should be guided by qualified medical professionals, warning that inappropriate use could cause harm.
She said structured medical supervision was essential to ensure that treatments were appropriate for individual needs and that potential risks were considered.
Ajelabi added that Medlyfe offers regenerative medicine approaches, including exosomes and platelet-rich plasma (PRP), intended to support the body’s regenerative processes.
The discussions collectively highlighted the importance of individualised healthcare, evidence-informed decisions and sustainable lifestyle changes in helping people maintain their health as they age.
For Medlyfe, the message was that living longer should not be the only ambition. The greater goal is to preserve the physical capacity, mental well-being and independence that allow people to make the most of those additional years.
The centre can be contacted on Instagram via @medlyse_wellness.
