Fitness,
wellness, and healthcare expenditures
A
healthier cohort results in lower overall
Health care charges, insurance rates
and premiums are determined by a number of factors, ranging from
infrastructure and administration expenditures to the behaviors and
risk factors of individuals and groups. Certain metrics are beyond
the ability of an individual to control or impact. Fitness and
wellness is a crucial area in which we can decrease fees on an individual and group basis.
Lifestyle
Management
 |
| minimally processed "whole foods" are essential to a healthy lifestyle |
A primary component in health care
expenses consists of lifestyle choices that we make on an individual
basis. In some areas, such as certain insurance rates, individuals
who engage in healthier lifestyle practices benefit from discounts.
Conversely, smoking, excessive drinking, poor dietary choices and
sedentary or low activity levels significantly elevate health care
costs. The greater the number of individuals that modify their
lifestyle to include a balanced nutrition and exercise regimen the
lower costs become for the group as whole.
Impeding
Disease
 |
| nutrition and fitness also strengthens internal organs and physiological processes |
According to the CDC, chronic diseases
account for 75% of health care costs. These expenses often stem from
costly pharmaceuticals, procedures and surgeries. Diet and exercise
are proven methods in the prevention of a host of chronic diseases.
With proper nutrition and fitness practices heart disease, type 2
diabetes, certain cancers and a host of other chronic disorders can
be avoided. Being proactive and eliminating the onset of chronic
disease results in a substantial decrease in overall expenses.
Alleviating
Symptoms
Diet and exercise aren't a panacea, but
they are a viable aid with such issues as arthritis, nausea, fatigue,
and hormone regulation. In addition to promoting healthier muscle,
organs, and circulation exercise helps to stabilize our mental state.
For many ailments nutrition and fitness works in concert with
medications. Upward of 20% of health care costs are attributed to
prescription drugs. Decreases in the individual need for
pharmaceuticals lower prices across the board. Physicians often
prescribe diet and exercises as complementary treatment. In some
instances nutrition and fitness are the stand alone recommendations
for treatment.
Group
Synch
 |
| Master Trainer Marlon Reid's teaching a group kettlebell class |
Healthy dietary and exercise practices
on an individual level are extremely important. They contribute to
longevity, increased quality of life and greater productivity. When
those practices are adopted by a cohort or demographic group the need
for more expensive medications and procedures diminishes. This is
evidenced by the significant growth of fitness and wellness programs
within corporations and government organizations. An ever increasing
percentage of organizations institute programs that effectively lower
their costs. This in turn lowers the cost to all purchasers and
providers of health care insurance and services.
References
CDC: Chronic Diseases
[http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/publications/AAG/chronic.htm]
AHRQ: Health Care Costs
[http://www.ahrq.gov/research/findings/factsheets/costs/health-care/index.html]
UCLA Health: How Nutrition and Exercise
can Increase Productivity and Lower Health Care Costs
[http://www.uclahealth.org/body.cfm?id=502&action=detail&ref=134]
USA Today: Is Exercise The Best
Medicine?
[http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/10/02/exercise-medicine-heart-disease-diabetes/2907853/]
Ks-cubed fitness, wellness and lifestyle management:
