Senator Darya Lantratova: The state's task is to create an environment where a healthy lifestyle becomes a person's natural choice

Healthy longevity is a key national development priority. This was stated by Darya Lantratova, Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy. She spoke at the session "Beauty and Fashion: Healthy Trends" as part of the "SMARTzdrav" (SMARThealth) Congress at the National Centre RUSSIA.

The senator recalled the words of Alexander Sergeyev, academician of the Russian Academy of Sciences, that at the beginning of the 20th century, average life expectancy was about 40 years, while now it is 70 years.

"This was achieved through scientific advancements — combating infections, inventing new medicines and new diagnostic tools," added Darya Lantratova. At the same time, she emphasised the importance of each individual's personal responsibility for their own health.

The Deputy Chairman of the Federation Council Committee on Social Policy noted a paradigm shift in the perception of beauty and health, especially among Generation Z. According to her, caring for physical and mental wellbeing is becoming a social norm, and a healthy lifestyle is now an important criterion when choosing an employer. Darya Lantratova highlighted the role of corporate health and wellness programmes, which increase employee productivity by 10–15 percent.

"Today, health is not just about medicine. It is about culture, art, our environment, and community. Our task is to design new approaches to developing the wellness sphere, turning it from a fashionable trend into a systemic factor in improving quality of life and strengthening human capital. Almost sixty percent of the signs of premature ageing appear because of lifestyle, not genetics," the senator stated.

The parliamentarian outlined the key task for society in this area: to create an environment where a healthy lifestyle becomes natural.

Medical community and the fashion industry representatives, as well as cosmetologists, participated in the discussion. During the conversation, they emphasised that the beauty and fashion industries influence a person's self-perception and change health care practices. Important issues addressed at the session included: the boundaries between aesthetics and health risks; effective products and practices that allow combining external attractiveness with physical wellbeing; and ways to cultivate a culture of conscious self-care through effective communication in the beauty industry.

The event was organised by the Federation Council, the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation, the National Medical Research Center for Therapy and Preventive Medicine of the Russian Ministry of Health, the National Centre RUSSIA, and the Russian Society for the Prevention of Non-Communicable Diseases.