How Lifestyle Can Improve Health Expenses

Abstract

Physical activity is important for the prevention of many diseases and to improve the conditions of sick people. “Exercise is medicine” is the new address for prevention and therapy. The boys also benefit of the sport activity for their psychological maturation. In addition, there is the damage from poor nutrition, alcohol dependence and the overuse of pharmacologically active substances, misuse of drugs, even those permitted. It is therefore necessary to increase the quantity/quality of time devoted to physical activity, both at school and outside school, but above all, it is vital the dissemination of knowledge of the problem. A widespread information / training, along with a sport and proper medical supervision into every type of school, would lead to a sharp reduction in public spending, much higher than the 80 million of which we have just spoken, with an almost negligible investment. The ideal would be to set up in School a course of education to health, with the principles of nutrition and physical activity, in order to improve the lifestyles and reduce health spending through health education, proper nutrition and sports activities. 1-2 hours a week would be enough to communicate to children, and indirectly their families and the families of the future, what are the criteria for a healthy life. It is however, necessary to have suitably qualified teachers for the treatment and dissemination of health prevention principles of proper nutrition and the correct approach to sports activities. A specific training should be therefore held in the University. Health education cannot be done by the science teachers or those of motor sciences, alone; they must have a physician specially trained to coordinate, perhaps in co-presence, the interventions.