In Italy and around the world, millions wake up each day battling chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart disease. These conditions rarely make headlines—but they quietly claim lives, overwhelm families, and place growing pressure on our health systems.
Like many countries, Italy is seeing an alarming rise in noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer—now the leading causes of death and disability. Yet despite their growing impact, the global response to NCDs remains disproportionately focused on treatment rather than prevention.
We believe there is a powerful, often overlooked prescription for better health: daily physical movement. Not as a luxury, but as essential, everyday medicine.
Exercise is one of the most powerful and accessible tools we have to prevent NCDs. It can lower the risk of chronic diseases by up to 30 percent, improve mental health, and enhance overall well-being. Yet globally, one in four adults does not meet the minimum recommended levels of physical activity. This is not simply a lifestyle issue—it is a systemic one. Movement must become an integral part of how we design our health systems, our cities, and our workplaces.
As leaders at Technogym and PATH, we come from different worlds; one dedicated to promoting movement and wellness, the other to driving global health solutions and expanding access to care. But we are united by a common goal: to make health, including physical activity, accessible to all. Exercise should not be viewed as a privilege or a personal luxury. It is a fundamental component of equitable, preventative health.
At Technogym, we see every day how technology and design can encourage movement, whether in the gym, at work, or at home. Powered by the interconnected Technogym ecosystem, integrating smart equipment, digital platforms, and personalized wellness experiences, this vision comes to life across communities worldwide.
The Wellness Valley Project, promoted by the Wellness Foundation—the non-profit organization established by Technogym founder Nerio Alessandri—was created in 2003 to make the Italian region of Romagna the first international district for knowledge and culture on wellness and good quality of life, representing a powerful example of what is possible when an entire community embraces movement as a core part of daily life.
Through a coordinated ecosystem of schools, businesses, health care providers, and local government, the Wellness Valley has successfully integrated physical activity and exercise into education, workplaces, and public spaces, creating a living model of disease prevention and healthy living at scale.
At PATH, we see how communities, health systems, and governments can create conditions for healthier lives through data-driven, scalable interventions. PATH has worked for decades to strengthen health systems in more than 70 countries, helping to design national strategies for NCD prevention, build healthier urban environments, and improve access to essential services.
From supporting community-based health initiatives to working with ministries of health on integrating preventative care into primary health services, PATH’s work demonstrates that sustainable solutions come from partnerships that place people, not just diseases, at the center of health policy.
When these efforts come together with private sector innovation, the impact can be profound. Imagine a future where exercise is prescribed by doctors, embedded into public health programs, and supported by employers. This is not a distant vision—it is already happening in some countries and forward-thinking companies. We now need to accelerate this shift and ensure it is not limited to a few but scaled for all.
The fight against NCDs will not be won in hospitals alone. It will be won in the rhythms of our daily lives—in parks, offices, schools, and homes. It is time for governments, health leaders, and the private sector to unite behind a bold but simple shift: treating movement as medicine. Let’s make it a prescription accessible to all.
Erica Alessandri is a Board Member at Technogym and Wellness Foundation. Nikolaj Gilbert is the President and CEO of PATH .
