Get Healthy, Save the American Economy (Part II)

But let’s take a look at how this really works.  How would the American economy be different if we all took our health and wellness a little more seriously?  How much more money would we have in our own pockets?

The Dollar in Your pocket!

We all have an optimum weight.  That's the weight you should be if you ate right and exercised the way you were made to.  Now statistics show that for every 10lbs of additional weight, you spend around a thousand dollars gaining it.  What about if you're 50lbs over weight?  That's five thousand dollars, right?  And of course, many of us who have been overweight, joined Weight Watchers, joined the local gym, bought a Bowflex, or invested in countless other weight loss programs and gimmicks.  We spend a fortune losing a few pounds, then go and put it all back on again.  It's a vicious and expensive circle!

The annual health insurance cost for someone at their optimal weight is around $3,254. The cost of insuring a severely obese person is very much higher.  The reason is that the severely obese are subject to heart disease, strokes and many other weight related ailments.  The medical fees to treat these conditions are huge... treatment for a heart attack, for example,  costs around $44,000, $40,200 for a stroke or $37,000 for end-state kidney disease.  The risks involved in insuring the overweight goes directly onto the insurance premium. 

It is estimated that by 2015, around 75% of the US population will be overweight... The United States has a population of over 300 million; that means over 200 million people in this country will be overweight!  Now consider the insurance premium for an overweight person against the premium for someone at their optimum weight.  That's a lot of money!  

What about on a business level? 

The McKinsey Quarterly Chart Focus Newsletter, "Will Health Benefit Costs Eclipse Profits," September, 2004 states, "Health insurance expenses are the fastest growing cost component for employers.  Unless something changes dramatically, health insurance costs will overtake profits by 2008."

Obese employees in the US cost private employers around $45 billion annually in medical costs and work days lost. Cardiovascular disease costs more than $274 billion in nationwide health care.  Diabetes accounts for $98.2 billion annually in medical costs and $40 billion annually in indirect costs.

Research (and common sense) shows that healthy employees increase production and profit.  It should be a 'no brainer' that businesses do everything in their power to encourage the health and wellness of those employees.  But more often than not, they don't!

If the solution to the sky rocketing medical bills is just to live healthier lives, why is it so hard? 

People say to me all the time "well you're just a fitness trainer who's crazy about exercise and I am not... I don't have time to exercise... my work schedule doesn't allow me to prepare healthy food all the time so I eat when I can from a fast food restaurant".  The list and excuses go on...

Let's discuss why your objections to getting healthy are ridiculous and expensive.

Time: There are 24 hours in a day. Don't tell me you can't commit at least one of them to exercising. Come on, you treat your household pet better than that.

Cost: So running outside, going hiking, swimming is expensive?  I don't think so.  It costs nothing to go walking or running, swimming at your local community pool costs around $3, hiking costs nothing, and no offense, a minimum gym payment of $20 -$30 per month doesn't even add up to a week's worth of lattes or a night out.  Compare that to your first heart attack!

Spouse:  It's time we took responsibility for our health and the health of our loved ones. No matter how many times you say "I love you just the way you are", wouldn't you actually prefer it if your spouse was a little leaner, had a fit and healthy body?  Wouldn't you prefer that for yourself?

Education: There are resources out there to advise and help you to get back into shape through good exercise and healthy living.  I'm a highly educated fitness trainer and have developed a fitness program for all shapes and sizes.  My book, 'Healthy Fitness Central' is written for men and women and offers advice on exercising in the home, gym, track, pool or wherever else you have some space.  If people just took some of that advice and looked after their body's a little better, just think of the impact on their lives, and ultimately or the whole health care system!

Genetics:  If you have a family history of diabetes II and high blood pressure, that means you have a family history of being fat and out of shape. DO something about it. Do you want your kids to be like that?

Motivation: Let me let you in on a little secret. One of the reasons why you aren't motivated to work-out, is because you're content to be who you are. You're content to accept that you can never look or feel different. Your body hates to exercise because you hate it. Your body hates to exercise because you do the wrong things. You train the wrong way or you don't train at all. Your body hates to exercise because you DON'T ever exercise.  Your body is toxic and out of shape.  

You must get in shape. It's not about motivation, it's about managing to live as long as possible and be around for your family. You don't need to drop 50lbs tomorrow. Dramatic weight loss programs are unrealistic and unhealthy.  But getting in shape through a structure exercise and nutrition program is realistic, achievable and life saving. Anyone can do it... YOU can do it!

The christinmcdowell.com website provides resources to help you stay committed to getting back in shape and staying healthy.  One of these resources is my 5 day per week boot camp.  If you live in Renton or Tukwila WA, I strongly recommend you join it.  Fitness boot camps provide the discipline and motivation to stick at a healthy lifestyle plan.  If you can't make my boot camp, look for another one but get out there and start exercising.  It's just not that hard!

If you don't live in the area, you need to do some serious soul searching and figure out what objections are holding you back from getting your body back, getting in shape and feeling great. Write them down and then overcome them. If you want advice, email me and I will be happy to help.

So America, you really can help the economy and your budget by just taking a little better care of yourself.  So I'll say again "Get Healthy, Save the American Economy".

The next article I write will be the specifics about getting in shape. The 'Dummies' guide to getting in shape and looking great!  Get motivated, Get going to a happier, healthier you!