The Italian draft law known as Ddl 287 is aimed at tackling sedentary lifestyles in order to prevent obesity and its serious consequences. But sport alone is not enough: the point of view of Costanza Montagna, Researcher at UniCamillus
It may sound obvious, even clichéd, but we all know that the more things are taken for granted, the easier they are to be ignored. We are referring to the fact that being inactive, sedentary and overweight makes people sick, and in some cases seriously sick.
Being sedentary and overweight can have significant effects on health, increasing the risk of several diseases, in particular cardiovascular diseases, with increased blood pressure and cholesterol levels that can lead to heart attacks and stroke.
Another possible consequence of inactivity—and therefore probable overweight—is type 2 diabetes: the accumulation of body fat can reduce insulin sensitivity, causing high blood sugar levels and thus increasing the risk of comorbidities in other important organs.
Even joints are affected by excess weight, with an increased risk of developing osteoarthritis, besides the fact that lack of movement is also associated with disorders such as depression and anxiety, undermining psychological well-being.
Finally, being overweight is connected with an increased risk of certain types of cancer, such as colon and breast cancer, as excess body fat can negatively influence hormone levels and inflammatory processes.
The damage of a sedentary lifestyle for the next 30 years on Italy’s NHS is 1.3 billion Euros
Physical activity and a healthy diet could really be an excellent prevention and an indispensable treatment. Unfortunately, however, they are not yet seen as such: there are more than 38 million Italians who do not undertake any physical activity, with an average of only 27% of active individuals compared to a European average of 44%. These low numbers have been revealed by the 2023 Sport Report of the Istituto per il Credito Sportivo (ICS) and Sport e Salute. ICS President, Beniamino Quintieri, emphasised the importance of physical activity to prevent the most dangerous chronic diseases at the conference held at UniCamillus University on ‘Medicine and Sport Science’.
Inactivity is a burden on public health and, consequently, on our NHS, estimating €1.3 billion worth of damage over the next 30 years. A possible solution comes in an innovative draft law that aims to promote physical activity as a means of prevention and treatment, treating it like a medicine and making it tax deductible.
The initiative, identified as Ddl 287 and sponsored by Senator Daniela Sbrollini, is supported by all parties in the X Senate Committee, which deals with Social Affairs, Health and Social Security. This draft law states that exercise can be prescribed by GPs, paediatricians and specialists, with the possibility for families to obtain tax deductions on their costs. This is a very promising idea that has yet to become real, and this requires cooperation between health and sports institutions.
Sport is good, but do not underestimate the role of healthy nutrition
It goes without saying that while moderate sporting activity can bring great improvements to people’s daily lives and to their physical and mental well-being, a healthy diet is also essential. Being fit and exercising regularly does not fully compensate for the negative effects of an unbalanced or excessive diet: high-fat and sugary foods, such as fast food or sugary drinks, can seriously affect sports performance and general health. In addition, eating unhealthily, even if you are sporty, can lead to an accumulation of visceral fat, which is not always visible but can increase the risk of cardiovascular problems such as atherosclerosis.
For these reasons, nutrition always remains an important pillar of good health, just like sport.
‘A healthy diet and an active lifestyle, with moderate daily physical activity, are essential for good health. It is not only about preventing chronic diseases, but also about improving the quality of life in general. The balance between food and physical activity is essential and has a significant impact on physical and mental wellbeing, strengthening the immune system, improving our mood and boosting our energy. However, it is important to emphasise that exercise cannot completely compensate for a poor or unbalanced diet, just as a healthy diet cannot compensate for being sedentary. For this reason, it is essential to raise awareness of the importance of combining an active lifestyle and a healthy diet to achieve overall and lasting well-being’, says Costanza Montagna, Researcher at UniCamillus University and programme director of the MSc Human Nutrition Sciences at the same university.
If you would like to learn more about healthy eating or qualify as professional in this field, registrations for the UniCamillus MSc Human Nutrition Sciences are about to close. Applications can be submitted electronically at this link, until 10 September 2024, at 1pm at the latest.
For further information, please read the relevant call for applications or send an e-mail to nutizione.umana@unicamillus.org