Can Increasing Physical Activity Save Lives?

In the European Union (EU), accelerating exercise or physical activity saves lives and billions of euros of health care costs annually, stated a report published by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). "Our modelling study clearly shows that increasing physical activity levels is not only great for health -- it will create a positive effect for the economy of any country, returning 1.7 euro ($1.8) in economic benefits for every euro invested," said Michele Cecchini who leads the OECD program of work on public health.

Benefits of Increasing Physical Activity

In addition, the report presents estimated potential economic benefits of increased physical activity in purchasing power parities (PPPs) -- the rates of currency conversion that equalize the purchasing power of different currencies by eliminating the differences in price levels between countries.

The EU nations, according to the report, are expected to save an average of 0.6 percent of their health care budgets if they address the issue of physical inactivity among the entire population. This amounts to almost 8 billion euros PPPs annually.

"The report provides evidence that investing in policies that promote physical activity not only improves individual well-being and population health, but also pays economic dividends," said Hans Kluge, WHO regional director for Europe.

However, other significant findings from the study show that every third person in the EU does not engage in an adequate amount of physical activity, with 45 percent of respondents saying they "never exercise or play sport." The highest burden of insufficient physical activity on regional health care spending is found in Germany, Italy, and France.

This is causing millions of cases of the four most lethal NCDs: cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes, "ruining people's health and often their financial well-being and burdening economies," the report has said.

Source-IANS