Making Healthy Choices™


Obesity and Inactivity - The High Cost to Organizations
Healthcare costs continue to climb at 2-3 times the general rate of inflation. Some groups have predicted that in the next few years, these costs will exceed the amount of profit most companies make yearly. Within 8-9 years, healthcare costs are expected to be 20% of the GDP of the United States, meaning that 1 out of every 5 dollars of our economy will go to heath care.
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) estimates that obesity costs the United States more than $117 billion dollars annually and inactivity an additional $76 billion yearly. Most of these costs are borne by the healthcare benefits programs of businesses and organizations. These two conditions - inactivity and obesity - are preventable and illustrate the value of having a health promotion program for your business or organization if you are interested in slowing the rise of healthcare costs.

Solutions to these two major health problems must involve business and industry, individuals, schools, and communities. Businesses can provide incentives and worksite programs to encourage employees to be more active and eat more healthfully. Schools can include more physical activity in their curriculum and teach fitness and healthy eating as a core requirement in their schools. Communities, business complexes, and school campuses can provide walking friendly sidewalks, trails, and biking paths.
The potential for health benefits of a regular physical activity program is enormous. The ACSM points out the following health hazards from being inactive:
  • You double the risk of a heart attack or other serious heart problem.
  • Your risk of becoming obese doubles if you are inactive.
  • You double your risk of getting diabetes, a devastating health problem.
  • Inactivity increases the risk of hypertension by a third.
The list continues. Inactivity and excess weight increase the risk for abnormal cholesterol levels, high blood triglycerides, gall bladder disease, back pain, osteoarthritis, many cancers, sleep apnea, and respiratory problems.
If we as a nation are serious about wanting to decrease healthcare costs, we must invest in wellness initiatives that help people become more physically active and encourage healthier eating practices.
Reference: American College of Sports Medicine. Physical Inactivity and Obesity Translates into Economic Impact. June 2007.