Annual Meeting Wellness Valley

• In Romagna 55.6% of the population is active compared to the Italian average of 48.3%

• The percentage of sedentary adults is 15.6% compared to the national average of 28.1%

• The percentage of over-65s at risk of disability due to chronic diseases in Romagna is 10.5% compared to the Italian average of 17%

• The wellness sector in Romagna in the period 2011-2022 recorded an economic growth of 50% and today weighs 1.7 billion euro

At international level, health and prevention issues are increasingly central and there is unanimous agreement that lifestyles are the determining factor for individual well-being and for preventing chronic non-communicable diseases, the world’s leading cause of death.

Working and investing in prevention is essential to ensure a sustainable future for future generations, but at the European level, 95 per cent of the health expenditure budget is devoted to treatment and only 5 per cent to prevention. Italy, today, is among the European countries with the fewest hours of physical education in schools and, at the same time, one of the countries with the highest rates of childhood obesity (29% of 8 and 9 year olds are overweight).

The conjunction of an ageing population and the increase in diseases caused by unhealthy lifestyles threatens to make healthcare systems economically and socially unsustainable. This is why all global stakeholders are questioning how to transform the current healthcare systems based exclusively on treating diseases (sick-care) into systems based also on preventing them while people are still healthy (health-care).

In this context, the Wellness Valley – an initiative born in Romagna 20 years ago from an intuition of Nerio Alessandri and promoted over the years by the Wellness Foundation – is proving to be a far-sighted project, with tangible impacts on the health of the population and the development of economic activities related to wellness and quality of life. Over the years, Wellness Valley has involved over 350 local stakeholders: public administrations, schools, universities, the health system, fitness operators, companies and the tourism sector. Twenty years on, it is a consolidated reality that is also recognised internationally as a prime example of the Wellness ecosystem, a social and cultural model that puts people’s health at the centre, emphasising the importance of prevention and correct lifestyles.

On the occasion of the Wellness Valley Annual Meeting on 23 September 2024 – in the presence of Nerio Alessandri, President of the Wellness Foundation and Technogym, Alberto Mantovani, Scientific Director, Istituto Clinico Humanitas and Emeritus Professor, Humanitas University, Daniela Sbrollini, Senator of the Italian Republic – first signatory of the DDL on ‘Dispositions concerning interventions aimed at the introduction of physical exercise as a tool for prevention and therapy within the National Health Service’, Francesco Caroli, National Coordinator of the Italian Healthy Cities Network WHO – World Health Organisation, Michele De Pascale, Mayor of Ravenna, Enzo Lattuca, Mayor of Cesena, Kai Troll, CEO EuropeActive (online), Gianmaria Manghi, Head of the Political Secretariat of the Presidency of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Michele Occhipinti President of Time to Move, Silvano Zanuso, Scientific Director of the Wellness Foundation and Technogym, and Federica Alberti, Director of the Wellness Foundation – the results of the Wellness Valley Report were presented, highlighting the impact of the project in terms of Health, Economic Development, Tourism and Education. The Wellness Valley Report is elaborated by the Observatory for the Study of Wellness Valley, an independent body made up of experts and professionals from various bodies such as the Emilia-Romagna Region, the University of Bologna, the Wellness Foundation, Unioncamere and APT Emilia-Romagna, the Regional Tourism Observatory, ART-ER, the Romagna Medical Association, the Regional School Office, CONI Emilia-Romagna, Clust-ER Health and Lepida Spa.

Below are the main data highlighting that the population of Romagna is decidedly more active and healthy than the national average.

Health and lifestyle of the population

Active population according to World Health Organisation guidelines

Wellness Valley: 55,6%

Italy: 48,3%

Sedentary Population

Wellness Valley: 15,6%

Italy: 28,1%

Daily bicycle use

Wellness Valley: 23,1%

Italy: 10,7%

Over 65 at risk of disability due to chronic diseases

Wellness Valley: 10,5%

Italy: 17%

Over 65 with diabetes

Wellness Valley: 15,6%

Italy: 20,6%

 

Economy

As far as the economy is concerned, the Romagna wellness sector recorded a steadily positive growth rate (+17.4% compared to pre-pandemic).

The aggregate turnover of wellness-related economic activities is close to 1.8 billion, a growth of +50% compared to 2011. The incidence of wellness on the total economy is also confirmed to be higher than in the rest of Italy: in Romagna wellness-related economic activities employ 3.3% of workers against a national figure of 1.6%. Moreover, in 2023 wellness grew more than the other economic sectors. The number of businesses in the wellness sector in Romagna increased by 24%, while the total number of businesses fell by 5.3%. The number of people employed in the wellness sector grew by 31.5% compared to +2.8% in the other sectors. The comparison refers to 2011.

Tourism

From the tourism point of view, Romagna is a relevant destination: out of the 14.5 million visitors to Emilia-Romagna, 61%, or about 8.9 million, come to Romagna also by virtue of the wellness offer. In fact, the Romagna territory has been able to create and attract numerous successful events that constantly increase the attractiveness of the area: in 2023 the top ten wellness sports events generated an economic impact of more than 75 million euro with more than 568 thousand presences (+12.2% compared to 2022). Significant values for the regional tourism economy.

University and Education

Thanks to the Wellness Valley Multicampus, the University of Bologna’s educational offer continues to expand with new degree courses and international Master’s courses related to the quality of life, health and wellness sectors: 12,466 students are involved in university studies on wellness and quality of life (+8% compared to 2022).

Nerio Alessandri, President of Wellness Foundation commented:

As tradition has it, the Wellness Valley Annual Meeting concluded with the awarding of prizes to local excellences that have distinguished themselves for their commitment and dedication to promoting the culture of wellness and the importance of healthy lifestyles, also actively collaborating with the Wellness Foundation.

Below are the awards presented:

Sport

Time to Move

Alma Gym – CUSB (University of Bologna)

Community 

RiminiTerme

Education 

Sacred Heart School, Cesena

Gyms that promote Health

Exercise Life

Eden – sport and health

Garden Sporting Centre

Health

AGIFAR, Association of Young Pharmacists Romagna

Urban Wellness

Sea Park, Rimini