Looking for another incentive to exercise? A
new study revealed that regular exercise can reduce yearly health care costs by
$2,500. It is known that a sedentary lifestyle can contribute to diseases such
as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, obesity and some forms of cancer. The
worldwide economic cost of sedentary lifestyles is $68 billion per year
resulting from a combination of missed work days and medical bills. Researchers
recently looked into exactly how much money a sedentary lifestyle may be taking
out of your wallet.
The study analyzed the exercise habits of
26,239 men and women and then divided them into two groups, those who exercised
frequently and those who did not. They based their criteria for frequent
exercise on the Physical Activity Guidelines that recommends moderate exercise
for 30 minutes, 5 days per week.
The researchers then looked at participants
medical spending for the year 2012. They found that those who met the exercise
guidelines had significantly lower medical costs, with an average savings of $2,500
for the year. Those who lead active lifestyles saved, on average, $400 per year
on prescription medications alone. These individuals also visited the doctor’s
office less often and had fewer trips to the emergency room.
This study focused the beneficial effects of
exercise on cardiovascular health, indicating yearly savings may be much
greater when considering the impact of physical activity on other chronic
diseases. Additionally, those with good health weren’t the only money savers;
those with heart disease who had a consistent exercise routine also had
significant medical savings compared to those with heart disease who did not
exercise.
Source 1 Source 2
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