Regular Exercise Can Help Prevent Chronic Illness, Reduce Health Care Costs, HHS Secretary Leavitt Writes

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 13 Oct 2008 - 10:00 PDT

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"Chronic diseases afflict 100 million Americans, cause seven out of 10 deaths and consume $2 out of every $3 spent on health care," but "much of the burden ... can be prevented with simple lifestyle choices" because a "major contributing factor is physical inactivity," HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt writes in a Lexington Herald-Leader opinion piece.

He writes, "To combat this burgeoning health threat," HHS has "released a practical road map to a healthier lifestyle" -- the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, which "provide specific recommendations on what we need to do and how long we need to do it." According to Leavitt, "by just sitting around and not exercising, Americans waste $1.4 trillion every year" in health care costs. "Thankfully, the cure for what ails us hardly costs anything at all," he writes, adding, "These guidelines present scientific evidence that Americans who are inactive can begin to gain health improvements by adding as little as 10 minutes of physical activity every day."

Leavitt writes, "These guidelines reinforce my priorities as secretary, which have been to create a culture of wellness to help Americans prevent debilitating and costly health problems." He concludes, "There are many ways to build the right amount of activity into your life ... let's learn from these new guidelines and become a nation that is more physically active" (Leavitt, Lexington Herald-Leader, 10/10).

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