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- It's not too late: in Russia, they can't assess the level of commitment to healthy lifestyle
It's not too late: in Russia, they can't assess the level of commitment to healthy lifestyle
In Russia, there is no clear methodology for assessing adherence to a healthy lifestyle at both the state and corporate levels, according to the report of the National Priorities NGO and relevant experts: there are no single clear data collection tools and a universal analysis of the effectiveness of measures in the country. For example, companies have data on the number of employees who have requested compensation for gym visits, but they cannot verify whether the visits were regular or effective. About why the statistics on healthy lifestyle do not reflect reality and are not at all similar to the survey results - in the Izvestia article.
What data is missing to assess the level of healthy lifestyle
Russia's economic stability and technological sovereignty directly depend on the health of the nation — it acquires the status of a strategic resource, according to the report of the National Priorities NGO "National Health as a strategic resource for technological leadership.": challenges and solutions" (Izvestia has it). Therefore, among the measures to preserve health, it is necessary to shift the main focus from the treatment of diseases to preventive measures and motivate people to be aware of their health.
But now there are limitations and barriers to measuring the effect of health support measures, both at the state and corporate levels, experts say. Thus, there are no clear universal tools for data collection and analysis of the effectiveness of measures. The main basic indicators used to assess the situation are the number of participants in various programs and events, as well as the results of surveys on lifestyle, nutrition, and so on. And based on these data, it is impossible to determine the true motives of people's participation in healthy lifestyle programs and monitor the effectiveness of this participation, the document says.
"For example, companies have data on the number of employees who have requested compensation for gym attendance, but they cannot verify the actual attendance, regularity and effectiveness of classes. Therefore, it is difficult to objectively assess the contribution of this measure to the health of the participants," the experts note.
The interpretation of the data available for analysis can also be ambiguous.
"The lack and abstraction of the data do not allow us to build reliable correlations that would unequivocally indicate the influence of specific tools on the result. Based on the available data, it is possible to judge only general trends without a deep understanding of their causes," analysts believe.
As an example, the report cites the gap between statistics on the prevalence of healthy lifestyle in our country and Russians' subjective assessment of their commitment to healthy practices. Thus, according to a VTsIOM survey, 88% of citizens believe that they adhere to the principles of healthy lifestyle: 53% say that they always adhere to them, 35% — that sometimes. And according to Rosstat, the proportion of Russians leading a healthy lifestyle (including quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, physical activity, abstaining from drugs, as well as alcohol abuse) reached 9.7% in 2024. Although this is 0.6% higher than in 2023, it does not even come close to matching the survey results.
"The significant discrepancy between statistical data and subjective assessments of Russians indicates a low awareness of people about the principles of healthy lifestyle, its components, standards and ways to comply with them, as well as the lack of objective metrics to assess their lifestyle, which leads to the possibility of false self—assessment," the authors of the report note.
Kirill Rodin, Director of Work with government Authorities at VTsIOM (who acted as an expert in the report), noted that the survey on healthy lifestyle, which the center conducts among Russians, does not always reflect reality, since people are based on subjective ideas about health and healthy habits.
— This is not a bad indicator, as it demonstrates the value of a healthy lifestyle. The very fact that there is a concept of the importance of healthy lifestyle in society means moving in the right direction. People adequately understand that the basic principles of healthy lifestyle are physical activity, proper nutrition and the absence of bad habits," he said.
Since 2025, measures to promote a healthy lifestyle have become part of the national project "Long and active Life," the ANO "National Priorities" recalled.
What systems are needed to assess healthy lifestyle
It is necessary to form a unified system for assessing and monitoring key health indicators, which would allow a person to independently assess the state of his body and check whether his lifestyle complies with the principles of healthy lifestyle, experts say.
For a real assessment of the situation, proven patterns based on artificial intelligence, big data and modern scientific methods are needed, said Andrey Selsky, director of the Center for Research on Advanced Competencies and Talent Development at the Institute for Statistical Research and Economics of Knowledge at the National Research University Higher School of Economics, Professor at the Graduate School of Law and Administration. He also participated in the report as an expert.
— The problem is that we usually compare the total number of people involved in sports with the total number of sick leave cases. Does this mean that the same people get sick less often? No, it doesn't," he said.
Due to insufficient data, it is possible to draw false conclusions and, as a result, suboptimal allocation of resources for both the state and business.
"A request has been formed for evidence—based research in the field of health support," the report concludes.
Among the possible solutions, it is proposed to involve leading research universities to develop a methodology for evaluating the effectiveness of health support measures and health monitoring tools. According to experts, research with a planning horizon of 10-20 years is a priority. These measures should help to increase the relevance of data and create the foundations for a comprehensive health support system as the foundation of the country's human resources potential.
Izvestia sent a request to the Ministry of Health with a request to evaluate the arguments of the experts.
Healthy lifestyle as a trend
The problem with assessing adherence to a healthy lifestyle does exist — it is difficult due to the subjectivity of criteria, the lack of uniform methods, and a different understanding of a healthy lifestyle in society, Irina Lyalina, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Natural Sciences at the State University of Education, confirmed to Izvestia.
— A person is an individual, and it is impossible to put everything and everyone under the same criteria. And commitment to a healthy lifestyle includes many aspects. Regular exercise is an important component, as it improves metabolism, strengthens the cardiovascular system, improves mood and overall body tone. But a healthy lifestyle also means a balanced diet, adequate sleep, quitting smoking and alcohol, psychological well—being and disease prevention. Only such a systematic approach ensures the harmonious development and maintenance of health for many years to come," she said.
Another difficulty in assessing adherence to healthy lifestyle, in her opinion, is the fact that research is often based on self-reports, and this can distort the real picture.
Nevertheless, the expert noted that in recent years there has been an increase in interest in healthy lifestyle among young people and the active part of the population. It is associated, among other things, with access to a large amount of information via the Internet and social networks. Blogs, videos, and articles about the benefits of proper nutrition, sports, and mental health are popular.
— Healthy lifestyle is a trend today, something fashionable and prestigious. Influencers and celebrities actively promote a healthy lifestyle and motivate young people to follow their example. However, the growth of interest in healthy lifestyle is uneven and depends on regional and social factors," Irina Lyalina said.
Nikolay Kononov, Vice President of the National Health League, also noted that assessing staff involvement in a healthy lifestyle is a difficult task that requires a systematic approach to data collection and compliance with the principles of confidentiality and voluntariness.
— It is important to separate corporate initiatives (charging, lectures, competitions, challenges, promotions, etc.) it depends on personal habits (eating and physical activity outside the office)," he said. — The former are easier to measure, but the latter are more important for health. Indirect criteria for staff involvement in a healthy lifestyle include sick leave, medical checkups, occupational examinations, and medical digital assistants.
But it is not easy to focus on these indicators to objectify the healthy lifestyle of employees precisely because of their confidentiality, Nikolai Kononov said.
— And the experience of the National Health League in developing programs to increase physical activity of the population shows that the simplest measurable criterion for involvement in healthy lifestyle is taking steps into account. The development of modern communication technologies and their use in everyday life today allows us to gamify, stimulate and record the process of daily background walking," he said.
Svetlana Kanevskaya, Head of the Internal Medicine Clinic at the European Medical Center, MD, Professor, called the assessment of adherence to healthy lifestyle one of the most difficult tasks in preventive medicine.
— There is no single definition of "healthy behavior," self—reports are distorted by social desirability, indexes are poorly reproducible, and behavior depends on many hidden factors, from genetics to stress. Objective biomarkers are still indirect, and trackers do not take into account the context. Prospects: a combination of accelerometers, biomarkers and AI, as well as the development of personalized behavioral medicine," she said.
At the same time, according to her, as a doctor, she notices a growing interest in a healthy lifestyle, but not among the older generation, who "do not have a deep understanding of cause-and-effect relationships, and have a lower level of education in disease prevention." And young people often study on their own, plus bloggers make a big contribution to promoting a healthy lifestyle. In addition, a healthy body is now associated with success in life, which helps motivate yourself to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
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