How meeting physical activity recommendations can boost personal income and reduce healthcare costs.
Physical activity plays a crucial role in maintaining health, but its benefits go beyond personal well-being – there are also economic benefits.
A doctoral study by Lic. Med., M.Sc. (Econ.) Hanna Junttila at the University of Oulu found that regular physical activity not only improves health outcomes but also brings significant economic benefits to both individuals and society.
From boosting personal income to lowering healthcare costs, the economic advantages of exercise are increasingly being recognized.
Physical Activity and Economic Benefits
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Personal Income
A key finding of the study is that individuals who meet the World Health Organization’s (WHO) physical activity recommendations tend to have higher future earnings compared to those who are less active.
According to WHO, adults should engage in 150–300 minutes of moderate physical activity or 75–150 minutes of intense exercise weekly.
The University of Oulu research shows that men who met these guidelines at ages 31 and 46 earned more by the time they were 50 years old.
This link between physical activity and income is significant because it demonstrates how maintaining an active lifestyle can enhance personal financial well-being.
While education, health status, and lifestyle were considered in the study, the relationship between physical activity and future earnings remained strong, underlining the value of staying active.
Healthcare Costs
In addition to personal financial benefits, regular physical activity reduces healthcare costs.
The University of Oulu study found that men of normal weight who met the WHO physical activity guidelines at ages 31 and 46 used fewer primary healthcare services.
These services included visits to doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, and mental health professionals.
By reducing the need for these services, physically active individuals not only benefited themselves but also eased the financial burden on the healthcare system.
The study highlights that those who did not meet the recommended physical activity levels incurred 38% higher outpatient healthcare costs.
This demonstrates that promoting physical activity can lead to considerable savings for society by reducing the demand on healthcare resources.
Barriers to Physical Activity
Despite the clear benefits of regular exercise, many people still do not meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
This is a widespread issue despite international and national efforts to promote a more active lifestyle.
The research stresses the need for both individual support and population-level interventions to encourage physical activity.
Tailored programs to help people safely increase their activity levels can have a long-term impact on reducing healthcare costs and improving overall productivity.
Final Thoughts
The findings of the University of Oulu’s study provide compelling evidence that promoting physical activity should be a priority, not only for health reasons but also for its economic advantages.
By meeting physical activity recommendations, individuals can boost their future income while also reducing healthcare costs, benefiting society as a whole.
Governments and healthcare providers should focus on strategies that encourage physical activity as an investment in both health and economic productivity.