Blue zone

A blue zone is a region in the world where people are claimed to have exceptionally long lives beyond the age of 80 due to a lifestyle combining physical activity, low stress, rich social interactions, a local whole-foods diet, and low disease incidence.^[1] Examples of blue zones include Okinawa Prefecture, Japan; Nuoro Province, Sardinia, Italy; the Nicoya Peninsula, Costa Rica; and Icaria, Greece.^[1] The name "blue zones" derived simply during the original survey by scientists, who "used a blue pen on a map to mark the villages with long-lived population."^[2]

The term, Blue Zones, is also used in marketing to promote a healthy lifestyle during aging. The concept of blue zones with longevity, however, has been challenged by the absence of scientific proof,^[3] and by the substantial decline of life expectancy during the 21st century in one of the first proposed blue zones, Okinawa.^[4]

^ ^a ^b Poulain M, Herm A, Pes G (2013). "The Blue Zones: areas of exceptional longevity around the world" (PDF). Vienna Yearbook of Population Research. 11: 87–108. doi:10.1553/populationyearbook2013s87. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2020. These populations succeeded in maintaining a traditional lifestyle implying an intense physical activity that extends beyond the age of 80, a reduced level of stress and intensive family and community support for their oldest olds as well as the consumption of locally produced food.
^ Cite error: The named reference poulain04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference hall was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ Cite error: The named reference hokama was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[Poulain-1] Poulain M, Herm A, Pes G (2013). "The Blue Zones: areas of exceptional longevity around the world" (PDF). Vienna Yearbook of Population Research. 11: 87–108. doi:10.1553/populationyearbook2013s87. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 March 2020. These populations succeeded in maintaining a traditional lifestyle implying an intense physical activity that extends beyond the age of 80, a reduced level of stress and intensive family and community support for their oldest olds as well as the consumption of locally produced food.

[poulain04-2] Cite error: The named reference poulain04 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[hall-3] Cite error: The named reference hall was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

[hokama-4] Cite error: The named reference hokama was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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