Science, but also good habits have given people 20-30 more years of life

There are no longer the old people of the past. A 50-year-old or 60-year-old of today is nothing like the 50-year-olds or 60-year-olds of a generation or two ago. The improvement of health conditions, new scientific discoveries, the constant use of prevention and then in everyday life the focus on diet and physical activity have given the population 20-30 more years of life than in the past. So much so that people are now defined as 'elderly' if they are over 80 years old, while people who are over 100 years old and in good condition are no longer exceptions.

The importance of proper nutrition. The World Health Organisation (WHO) defines health as a 'state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not simply the absence of disease or infirmity'. And we cannot speak of good health if nutrition is not adequate in relation to the ability to digest, absorb and utilise nutrients and is directly influenced by the type of food and its nutrient content. Besides, no single food contains all the necessary nutrients, so it is essential to vary the diet as much as possible, says the WHO. On the contrary, an incorrect nutrition, besides affecting psycho-physical well-being, is one of the main risk factors for the onset of chronic diseases.

The five golden rules of the WHO: the focus on physical activity. The World Health Organisation has compiled 5 easy golden rules that every person can and should follow to stay healthy. Here they are: undergo regular check-ups, reduce alcohol intake, stop smoking, eat a healthy diet and lead an active lifestyle. With regard to physical activity in particular, the WHO suggests that each person should devote at least 2.5 hours a week to it in order to maintain a healthy body weight and decrease the risks of heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer. According to recent estimates, one in four adults today does not get enough exercise.

Live well and live long. The topic of living well and for a long time, often summarised by the term 'longevity', was also addressed in the webinar organised by Terna with the title: "Longevity: live well, live long - Strategies and behaviours to stay always fit and healthy", aimed at the entire corporate population. In Terna's DNA there is a precise approach aimed at encouraging the adoption of a correct lifestyle: this is why the company has also joined the WHP - Workplace Health Promotion programme, based on the model defined by the World Health Organisation "Workplace: a model for action", which promotes health in the workplace.

«Terna recognises in occupational health and safety a fundamental commitment that we pursue both with practical initiatives aimed at prevention and protecting people's health, but also with training and awareness-raising activities in order to increase awareness of the importance of these issues» explained Danilo Del Gaizo, Terna's Director of General Legal and Corporate Affairs, as he opened the webinar.

He was echoed by Enrico Farci, Head of AGLS-HSE Quality and Risks at Terna, recalling that all the campaigns that are part of the WHP - Workplace Health Promotion programme testify to Terna's commitment to health, strong in the conviction that companies are the right place to develop good practices.

Mr Del Gaizo also mentioned the main projects for the health and safety of professionals and introduced the three special guests, who were involved to give their specialist views and answer questions from the over 800 participants: Dr Sara Farnetti MD, PhD, specialist in Internal Medicine and PhD in Physiopathology of Nutrition and Metabolism at the Catholic University of Rome, Dr Fred Fernando, co-founder of MED-EX (Medicine & Exercise) and health manager of Scuderia Ferrari, and former Olympic champion swimmer Massimiliano Rosolino.

All three emphasised how diet and physical activity play a key role in prevention and how each of us, with our own individual goals, tools and characteristics, can embark on a truly virtuous path.

But what does it mean to eat well? The equation of healthy eating = better wellbeing and longer life is therefore already a pillar. «Food is our first medicine, it is a hormonal blueprint that, with every meal, we put in place to heal or gain health. So, every day, every time we eat, we think that there is a hormonal logic behind our choices and that, with food, we can really contribute to our healthy longevity», according to Dr Farnetti.

But narrowing down the topic further, the question arises: what is really meant by eating well? An initial selection of foods, according to most nutritionists, should include whole-grain carbohydrates, fruit, vegetables, white meat, and very little sugar, at least in the daily diet. On the other hand, other foods may contain inflammatory elements that end up interfering with health in general, leading to the development of diseases, which vary depending on the organism, ranging from cardiovascular diseases, diabetes (with all its consequences), to neurological and neurodegenerative diseases (e.g. Parkinson's and Alzheimer's).

The importance of physical activity

Physical activity in children is spontaneous and essential for their growth. Likewise, movement, sport, any physical activity, even fun, must accompany everyone's life in order to be healthy. «Physical activity accompanies us throughout our lives, in the various stages, starting from a young age, with fun and with a sport that allows one to get together with others and to start measuring one's own abilities, without pressure from parents, which can sometimes alter the aspect of play», noted Dr Fernando. «It would be important to maintain, as we go on with our lives, the good habits we acquired as children, and to try to have a good programme of physical activity in adulthood that will help us to grow older and be better performers in everyday life».

Sportspeople also testify to this: «Discipline and resilience are closely related and integrated in the lives of not only athletes because being disciplined is the key to success, knowing what lies ahead but also being prepared for the unexpected. It takes years to be able to perfect and integrate these qualities, certainly confidence helps to develop experience and this, in turn, brings the awareness that allows us to face doubts and uncertainties every day», noted Rosolino.

The workshop was a significant moment within an intense year of activities that mark a step forward in achieving the objectives of the WHP programme and that are part of the broad design of Terna's Sustainability Plan, an integral part of the 2024-2028 Industrial Plan.

Best practices in everyday life in the company. At Terna, there are a number of key concepts underlying health promotion policies, which involve the commitment of everyone: from the employer to the employees. These range from improving the work environment and organisation, to promoting active participation and encouraging individual development. With these objectives, Terna’s WHP programme calls for the adoption of good practices within certain specific subject areas.

Healthy nutrition: practices to encourage the competent and conscious adoption of healthy eating behaviour (e.g. the possibility for people working in the Rome office to make use of the professionalism of a nutritionist with whom it is possible to address specific issues, such as: nutrition during pregnancy, breastfeeding and weaning, vegan and vegetarian diets, coeliac disease, intolerances and more).

Physical activity: practices to encourage the competent and conscious adoption of an active lifestyle (in this sense, the possibility for employees to access gyms and fitness areas at some company locations, the possibility to make use of the expertise of a physiotherapist at the Rome headquarters, the establishment of the Terna Running Team for participation in sports events).

Smoking: practices to create a “smoke-free” workplace and encourage quitting. In addition, Terna has decided to inform its professionals as well as possible about all the risks and possible impacts of smoking, promoting a culture of prevention.

Alcohol: practices to combat addictive behaviour (alcohol, drugs, gambling).

Terna also adopts practices that cut across all other areas and promotes, for example, adherence to cancer screening and vaccination campaigns and welfare initiatives that aim to reconcile life and work for a continuous improvement of work-life balance.