The fitDiva Dish

Exercise based New Years Resolutions Can Cut Costs

This is a great article from the American College of Sports Medicine on how getting into shape can cut health care costs and time at the doctors office.

NEW YEAR'S FITNESS RESOLUTIONS GOOD FOR BODY, WALLET AND JOB
Physical activity leads to lower health care costs, employee savings

INDIANAPOLIS – Research from the American College of Sports Medicine shows making a fitness-related New Year’s resolution will benefit your pocketbook and employer in addition to your body.

According to a presentation on ACSM’s “Exercise is Medicine™” program by Robert Sallis, M.D., FACSM, ACSM immediate past president, health care for inactive persons costs $1,543 per year more than active ones. Exercise is Medicine™, an initiative calling for physical activity and exercise to be a standard part of disease prevention and treatment, emphasizes that physical activity prevents and treats chronic diseases. Lower rates of obesity, coronary artery disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, depression, anxiety, arthritis and osteoporosis are among the benefits of exercise, in addition to a lower rate of mortality.

An article published in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal reported the United States spends more than 95 percent of its health care budget on curative tactics and less than five percent on preventive strategies. Diabetic persons spend an average of $11,000 more than persons without diabetes. Preventative programs with a fitness protocol could save the U.S. $20 million on diabetic patients alone.

Making a resolution to exercise is also good news for employers. The results of a study published in ACSM’s official scientific journal, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise_®, shows workers’ show quality of work, mental performance and time management were better on days when employees exercised. This leads to fewer sick days, better attendance and more tolerant co-worker relations, concluding with higher return-on-investments for the employer.

The recently released ACSM physical activity guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services provide a baseline for those looking to start an exercise routine. Significant health benefits occur with at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking.  These guidelines recommend breaking down the workload into 30 minutes of moderately intense exercise, five days a week. For more information on customizing an exercise plan, visit www.acsm.org/physicalactivity.

For more information on physical activity, or to find an ACSM-certified fitness professional in your area to help you meet your goals, visit www.acsm.org. To subscribe to ACSM’s Fit Society Page newsletter (electronic) and receive valuable information about health and exercise, e-mail publicinfo@acsm.org.

ACSM Letter to Obama: Healthy Lifestyles is Key to Prevention

 
This is a great article by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and how they are trying to get the Presidents attention on the importance of exercise to improve the overall health of our nation, cut down health care costs and prevent disease.

INDIANAPOLIS – On the heels of President Barack Obama’s health care reform speech Sept. 9, the president of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) – the largest exercise science organization in the world – is clarifying the meaning of preventive care.

James Pivarnik, Ph.D., FACSM, ACSM President, stressed in a letter to the president that prevention should go far beyond clinical tests and services. Ideally, prevention should also emphasize healthy lifestyles, including adequate amounts of physical activity – a practice that’s not only health-conscious, but inexpensive.

“Five of the costliest illnesses and conditions – cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, lung disease, and strokes – can be prevented through a combination of healthy lifestyles and essential screenings,” Pivarnik said in his letter to Obama.

Pivarnik also cited the Exercise is Medicine™ program, an initiative launched by ACSM and the American Medical Association in late 2007. The program is founded on the beliefs that physical activity should be addressed at every doctor’s office visit and that exercise is a crucial part of health care and prevention.

Since the health care reform debate began, ACSM has been a national leader in promoting the benefits of a healthy, physically active lifestyle. In March, ACSM led a 34-organization-strong call to action to President Obama, urging him to give physical activity a heightened focus on the nation’s health care agenda.

Physical activity has been shown in studies to prevent and cure numerous chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, high blood, heart disease, and more. Consistent with the federal physical activity guidelines, ACSM recommends at least 150 minutes/week of physical activity for healthy adults, easily achieved in 30 minutes/day, five days/week.

Health Care Reform and Weight Issues

This is a great article on our shocking obesity increase in the USA and how many organizations including the American College of Sports Medicine are trying to get a healthy lifestyle inititive woven into the health care system.  Click here to read this interesting article.