Economic Benefits of Exercise

The Facts

THE ONLY REAL CURE FOR THE HEALTH CARE CRISIS IS PREVENTION.

Unhealthy Employees Cost Your Company a Lot of Money

According to the comprehensive California study on Economic Costs of Physical Inactivity, Obesity and Overweight (2005), the incremental cost to the employer of a physically inactive worker is $2,400/year; and $3,270 for an obese worker.

*Cost: Medical 50% / Productivity 50%
**Rate of obesity is growing at 4.5% per Year
The Real Cost of Being Out of Shape

Increased Corporate Fitness can solve workplace issues caused by inactivity and poor overall health:

• Physical inactivity results in the loss of 162 productive hours (approximately 20 days) per worker for an average statewide cost of $8.6 billion annually.
• A recent study of 1.5 million adult health plan members found that total annual health plan expenditures attributable to physical inactivity were $83.6 million.
• Indirect costs of poor health such as absenteeism, presenteeism, and disability may be 2 to 3 times higher than direct medical costs.
• Employees with weight problems incur 36% higher annual health care costs for primary care visits and 105% higher pharmacy costs for managing chronic conditions caused by their weight (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes).

Click here for the Economic Benefits of Regular Exercise (PDF)

Call today to learn about how our corporate fitness programs can save your company money and make your employees more productive.

Source:
1. Chenoweth, David, DeJong, Glenna, Sheppard, Loridna, Lieber, Marilyn: “The Economic Cost of Physical Inactivity in Michigan.” (2003) Michigan Fitness Foundation. Page 2.
2. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 2004 Nov;27(4): 304-9.).
3. Edington DW, Burton WN. Health and productivity. In: McCunney RJ: A Practical Approach to Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Philadelphia: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. 3rd ed. 2003:140-152.
4. Thomas D, Brown JB, Nichols GA, Elmer PJ, Oster G. Body mass index and future healthcare costs: A retrospective cohort study. Obes Res. 2001:9:210-218.
5. Carels, R.A., Darby, L.A., Rydin, S., Douglass, O.M., Cacciapaglia, H.M., & O’Brien, W.H. (2005). The relationship between self monitoring, outcome expectancy, difficulties with eating and exercise, and physical activity and weight loss treatment outcomes. Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 30(3), p.182-90.
6. Gleeson-Kreig, J.M. (2006). Self-monitoring of Physical Activity: Effects on Self-Efficacy and Behavior in People with Type 2 Diabetes. The Diabetes Educator, 32(1), p.69-77.