HEALTHCAREHEALTH CARE FACT SHEET

FACT SHEET: STEPPING-UP PHYSICAL ACTIVITYStepping Up Physical Activity

Issue Statement

Physical inactivity and its associated health problems have substantially contributed to the rising cost of health care. Lack of regular physical exerciseInactive lifestyles can lead to illness and chronic diseases that cost billions of dollars in healthcarehealth care costs each year. Regular physical activity – just Just 30 minutes of moderate exercise daily – cy can significantly improve the health of millions of Americans, and help stem control the rising cost of healthcarehealth care.

Key facts, national statistics

  • According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, increasingIncreasing regular moderate physical activity among the more than 88 million inactive Americans over the age of 15 years might could reduce the annual national direct medical healthcarehealth care costs by as much as $76.6 billion.(). (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Centers for Disease Control)Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,”, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002)
  • More than one-third of young people in grades 9-12 do not regularly engage in vigorous physical activity, yet 43 percent of students in that same age group watch television more than two hours per day.(Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,, “Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,” 2002.)

(Centers for Disease Control)

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  • According to data from the National Health Interview Survey, in anything more current?11997-98, nearly 40 percent of adults reported no participation in leisure-time physical activity. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,” 2002.)

(Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002)(Web address to come.)

A recent study found thatO obese individuals spend approximately 36 percent more than the general population on health services and 77 percent more on medications. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,” 2002.)

  • (Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002) ()
  • Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. A BMI of 30 in most cases means an individual is about 30 pounds overweight. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,. “Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,”, 2002.)

(Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002) .

  • Medicare and Medicaid programs currently spend $84 billion annually on five major chronic conditions that could be significantly improved by increased physical activity, specifically diabetes, heart disease, depression, cancer, and arthritis.(U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,s. “Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,”, 2002.)

(Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002)().

Today, 12.6 million people have coronary heart disease, 17 million people have diabetes (90 to 95 percent of cases are type 2 diabetes), and nearly 108 million adults (61 percent) are either obese or overweight – all of these conditions can be better- managed or even prevented or improved through regular physical activity. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,. “Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,”, 2002.)(Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease, US Department of Health and Human Services, 2002)().

  • Physical inactivity can lead to chronic diseases and conditions like such as heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and osteoporosis. HealthcareHealth care costs related to these conditions total more than $600 billion nationally each year or a particular year?.in 2000.. (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,, “Physical Activity Fundamental to Preventing Disease,”, 2002.)(National Institutes of Health, 2000. Web address to come).
  • The cumulative cost of bypass surgery is $57,073. (National Institutes of Health, “TThe Bypass Angioplasty Revascularization Investigation tTrial,” Supported by the NIH, 1997.)

Statements from key facts

  • Work Talk with your doctor to find the best way to add physical activity to your daily routine. By getting at least 30 minutes of moderate physical exercise every day, we you can help improve your health andcan allhelp control the rising cost of healthcarehealth care.
  • Check with a local a community center, senior center, school or church for free or low-cost exercise classes and athletic activities.

Editorial copy, utilizing the statistics and statements, for newsletters, advertorials, and other Plan-written pieces

The benefits of regular exercisephysical activity are many – we look better, we feel better, and our overall health could improves. And that’s not all – by exercising regularly we can help control the rise of healthcarehealth care costs for everyone. In fact, aEveryone knows that exercise is an important part of staying healthy – but what many people do not know is that the ultimate payoff for routine physical activity is enormous. According to a study by the Centers for Disease Control, increasing regular moderate physical activity among the more than 88 million inactive Americans over the age of 15 years might reduce the annual national direct medicalannual healthcarehealth care costs by as much as $76.6 billion.

We all have a role to play in keeping healthcarehealth care affordable. And because we all pay for the rising cost of healthcarehealth care through increased premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, we all have a stake in this. Being physically inactive significantly increases the risk of developing many chronic diseases and conditions like such as heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, obesity, arthritis and osteoporosis. Total healthcarehealth care costs related to these conditions total more than $600 billion nationally. Each year or a particular year? In 2000.

We all have a role to play in keeping healthcare affordable. And because we all pay for the rising cost of healthcare through increased premiums, co-pays, and deductibles, we all have a stake. Fortunately, each of us has the power to help reduce control healthcarehealth care costs by exercising every day. Adding at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity to daily routinesFor example, brisk walking for 30 minutes a day, three times a week, will can not only improve personal health, but will can alsoalso cancan alsohelpreduce your need for medical services keep healthcare affordable for all Americans. It’s a healthy way to keep healthcare affordable. Learn more at When it comes to the cost of healthcarehealth care, your choices make a difference. Visit or [Plan’s] Wweb site for more ways each of us can help information about keeping healthcarehealth care affordable.

Localized statements

Last year alone, [Plan name] paid more than [figure] in healthcare expenses related to physical inactivity, including [figure] for heart disease, [figure] for cancer, [figure] for diabetes and [figure] for individuals who are overweight and or obeseity.

That’s an average of [figure] for every one of the [figure] members in your health plan.

That is why [Plan name] offers [special programs/incentives/BCBS yearlong walking program] to help members add regular physical activity to their daily routines. For details, contact Iris Schaffer, Managing Director, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Marketing tie-ins

  • Family Health and Fitness Day USA: September 27, 2003

National Physical Fitness and Sports monthMonth: May

National Running and Fitness Week: May 19-25, 2003

  • American Heart Walk: October (dates vary depending on location)

Family Health and Fitness Day USA: September 27, 2003

  • Healthy Weight Week: January 19-25, 2003
  • National Physical Fitness and Sports Month: May
  • National Running and Fitness Week: May

BCBS year-long walking program (sponsored events,) etc,)

(For details contact Iris Shaffer, Managing Director, Corporate Public Relations, at Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, 312.-297-.5572, )

Healthy Weight Week: January 19-25, 2003

BCBS yearlong walking program (sponsored events, etc.)

Links to other existing programs and sources

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation:

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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

The Presidents’ Council on Physical Fitness and Sports:

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8710.690-5031

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