Lower Direct Medical Costs Associated
with Physical Activity
The benefits of moderate physical activity
are well known: lowered risk for heart attack
and stroke, reducing weight, and improving
mood. Researchers at the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) recently documented
another major advantage — improving
the health of the Nation’s health care
expenditures. A study in the October issue
of The Physician and Sportsmedicine found
that physically active individuals had lower
annual direct medical costs than did inactive
people. The cost difference was $330 per person,
based on 1987 dollars.
The potential savings if all inactive American
adults became physically active could be $29.2
billion in 1987 dollars, or $76.6 billion
in 2000 dollars.
This is the first study ever to examine direct
medical costs associated with various levels
of physical activity by reviewing actual medical
expenditures. Previous studies in the field
have used estimates to project the economic
costs of physical inactivity. The CDC researchers
analyzed the relationship between physical
activity and medical expenditures from the
1987 National Medical Expenditures Survey
(NMES), the most comprehensive healthcare
information source available. They found that
Americans 15 years and older who engaged in
regular physical activity–at least 30
minutes of moderate or strenuous physical
activity three or more times a week–had
average annual direct medical costs of $1,019
versus costs of $1,349 for those who were
inactive. Persons with health conditions that
limited regular moderate physical activity
were excluded from the study.
"This study has significant implications,"
said Jeffrey Koplan, M.D., M.P.H, Director
of CDC. "It suggests that we can make
a major impact on reducing health care costs
by encouraging regular physical activity.
The amount of physical activity required to
make a difference is reasonable and well within
the reach of most Americans."
The level of physical activity measured in
this study was even more modest than current
Federal guidelines of 30 minutes or more of
moderate physical activity five or more days
a week, suggesting that following current
recommendations could yield even greater cost
savings.
The study found that physically active people
had fewer hospital stays and physician visits
and used less medication than physically inactive
people. The cost savings were consistent for
men and women, for those with and without
physical limitations, and even for smokers
and nonsmokers. The biggest difference in
direct medical costs was among women 55 and
older, supporting the widely held belief that
the potential gain associated with physical
activity is especially high for older women.
The authors state that "a population-wide
strategy might produce cost savings among
most adult age groups."
"We must make it easier for people to
be active," said Dr. Koplan. "We
need to make a serious national effort to
promote physical activity and support changes
in the environment that get people moving
again."
Changes that promote physical activity may
be as simple as improving the location and
appearance of stairwells to encourage walking
at work or as complex as the redesign of communities.
Some communities have existing infrastructure
that supports physical activity, such as sidewalks
and bicycle trails, and work-sites, schools,
and shopping areas in close proximity to residential
areas. In many other areas, such community
amenities need to be developed to foster walking
and cycling as a regular part of daily activity.
Contacts:
To obtain a copy of the article, please call
the press contacts listed below.
* Tim Hensley at 770-488-5820
* CDC Media Relations at 404-639-3286
For more information about nutrition and physical
activity,