A sedentary lifestyle can lead to costly chronic diseases……and has many other costs as well.
Do you feel like you’re getting enough exercise?
When I see surveys that look at different states in the U.S., across the board the answer is no.
Generally about half the adult population does not meet physical activity recommendations.
Many people cite that it costs too much money or takes up too much time, however I’m convinced that being unhealthy can cost both more time and more money in the long run.
Inactivity, along with an unhealthy diet (and they are often linked) adds up to gaining more pounds, putting you at risk for chronic diseases that are very costly to treat.
When departments of health or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looks at the statistics and adds up the costs, the numbers are staggering.
In Hawaii, for instance, if all adults were physically active, about $140 million could be saved on hospital costs related to heart disease, stroke and diabetes.
In the U.S. as a whole, health care costs associated with physical inactivity topped $76 billion in 2000.
If only 10% of adults started a regular walking program, $5.6 billion spent to treat heart disease could be saved. Please read that again because that number is staggering.
A 10% weight loss can reduce an overweight person’s lifetime medical costs by $2,200 to $5,300 by lowering costs associated with high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke and high cholesterol.
Just how much physical activity is beneficial to your health?
Studies show that 30 minutes of mode
