We are one of the longest-lived countries in the world. Women here in Australia, on average, reach 85 years, and men 80 years. So, we as a nation are doing well; we must be doing something right if we are the 8th longest-lived on Earth.
However, we do not age well. I have always been puzzled by hearing and seeing what living in your old age is like. As people I know have aged, I have noticed they accumulate weight, diseases, pain, depression, loneliness, and immobility. I remember growing up hearing, 'Make the most of being young, as you can't do that when you get old' This memory was from a person in their 40s! As a young person, I added the simple math and concluded that we would be miserable for half our lifetime.
During my university studies, I hypothesised that the average Australian sets the bar for their health too low. Take the example of the average 40-year-old within my local community. Most of them would quote that they are relatively healthy. If I asked more detailed questions on average, I would find chronic aches and pains, signs of pre-diabetes, insomnia, excess body fat, and signs of chronic stress. Leave these symptoms that are supported by diet and lifestyle choices for another ten years, and we start to see disease. Normalising these symptoms and defining oneself as somewhat healthy is a disservice to our body and mind's potential.
Our medical system also contributes to our low health bar. Medical care has advanced much over the last century. It has excelled at infection prevention, childbirth mortality, and injury repair. However, it centres around disease care and critical care. So, if a person does not have a disease to diagnose or an injury that needs care, the medical system is ill-equipped to help them.

This is when I came up with my phrase 'going beyond disease-free.' It's about shifting our focus from disease treatment to disease prevention and, more importantly, to the optimal function of our bodies and minds. It's about not just being disease-free, but thriving in our health and wellness.
My 'whys' in life and my career as a health professional relate heavily to why I wanted to write this article. I want to share them to let you know my motivations and, hopefully, align with yours. My 'whys' include my passion for promoting health and wellness, my belief in the power of prevention, and my desire to see more people living their lives to the fullest.
- Elevate the standard of health in Australia.
- Live the example of going beyond disease-free.
You could have guessed the first one, but the second is vital to me. To be the change in the world is a quote I love and honestly believe in. One way to accelerate my first 'why' is to create more examples of people going beyond disease-free. Fugen Health was born as a part of that dream.
This is my first article addressed to the public to understand our health issues and to set higher expectations for our health. I am grateful for your interest and engagement. I look forward to providing you with care, expertise, and services that will connect you with the level of health that we all deserve.
"Go beyond disease-free."
Adrian Adams