The Cost of Physical Inactivity

Current estimates place the cost of physical inactivity in Canada at 5.3 billion ($1.6 billion of direct costs and $3.7 billion in indirect costs) and the cost of obesity in Canada at $4.3 billion ($1.6 billion of direct costs and $2.7 billion of indirect costs) in health care expenditures.

Physical Activity is one of the most cost-effective ways to achieve the objective of having a healthier population, physically and mentally. The prevalence of physical inactivity in Canada has a significant impact on public health care costs. The public health burden of physical inactivity can be measured in terms of premature death, reduction in quality of life due to chronic diseases and conditions, and the economic cost of treating these diseases.

If Canadians were to become more active, there would be:

• 26% fewer deaths from type II diabetes;
• 20% fewer deaths from colon cancer; and,
• 22% fewer deaths from cardiovascular disease

(Data presented by the Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute)