Jun 11 2012
Health Costs Due to Physical Inactivity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems. Obviously there are costs associated with obesity usually long term health costs. A recent Canadian study confirms that physical inactivity is a major contributor to chronic disease and health care spending in Canada. Specifically, 15% to 39% of the 7 chronic diseases examined were attributable to physical inactivity. The 2009 estimates indicate that the total annual economic burden of physical inactivity in Canadian adults was $6.8 billion, which represented 3.8% of the overall health care costs.