Do you feel like you’re not getting enough exercise? You’re not alone.
In Hawai‘i, about half of the adult population does not meet physical activity
recommendations.
If you think exercising costs too much time and money, consider this: Increasing
evidence shows that being unhealthy can cost more time and money in the long run.
Inactivity is costly for society as a whole, contributing to higher medical costs
and more sick days at work. That’s because inactivity, along with an unhealthy
diet, can add up to gaining unwanted pounds, putting you at risk for chronic diseases
that are costly to treat. During the past 20 years, obesity rates among adults have
risen significantly in the U.S. Statistics show that about 34 percent of U.S. adults
are obese. In Hawai‘i, about 20 percent of adults are obese.
Exercise provides many benefits to help you look and feel good. It also helps manage
health care costs. According to the Hawai‘i Department of Health’s Hawai‘i
Physical Activity and Nutrition Surveillance Report 2008:
- If all Hawai‘i adults were physically active, about $140 million could have
been saved on hospital costs related to heart disease, stroke and diabetes in 2005.
- Adults who are not physically active on a regular basis are more likely to have
high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension.
Nationally, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says:
- Health care costs associated with physical inactivity topped $76 billion in 2000.
- If 10 percent of adults began a regular walking program, $5.6 billion spent to treat
heart disease could be saved.
- A 10-percent weight loss can reduce an overweight person’s lifetime medical
costs by $2,200 to $5,300 dollars by lowering costs associated with high blood pressure,
type 2 diabetes, stroke, and high cholesterol.
How much physical activity is beneficial to your health? Studies show that 30 minutes
of moderate exercise a day can lower your risk of obesity, type 2 diabetes, heart
disease, stroke, and some cancers. Physical activity can help you avoid premature
death and feelings of depression and anxiety. It also helps maintain healthy bones,
muscles and joints.