Randomized Study of Healthy Lifestyle Promotion Using an App Versus Health Education in Sedentary Individuals or Participants in Walking Groups Aged 60 to 80

The UN has declared the period 2021-2030 the decade of healthy ageing, based on epidemiological data that show a rapid increase in the elderly population not only in developed countries, but also in middle- and low-income countries.

In this context, the demographic evolution of Italian society over the last twenty years, together with the increase in life expectancy obtained thanks to progress in prevention and treatment approaches, makes the share of the over-60 population increasingly relevant. This population group is heterogeneous but has a significant component of individuals still in work or with good personal and social functioning, although often suffering from one or more chronic diseases or presenting risk factors for future acute or chronic pathological events.

Numerous pieces of evidence confirm that the adoption of healthy lifestyles, with regular physical activity and proper nutrition, is able to have a favorable impact in terms of reducing the risk of morbid events in the neurological and cardiovascular fields through the modification of parameters that are related to these risks. Among these, a particularly important role is played by the body mass index and systolic and diastolic blood pressure values, as well as glycemic and lipid control levels.

In addition to physical activity and diet, other parameters such as satisfactory social interaction are also able to positively influence the so-called healthy ageing, with the consequent cost reductions due to the lower incidence and impact of acute and chronic diseases.

Several studies suggest that the active involvement of recipients of interventions aimed at changing lifestyle habits is a key factor in determining the success of such interventions.