Study Shows Unhealthy Lifestyles Cost State $24 Billion

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Study Shows Unhealthy Lifestyles Cost State $24 Billion

A study released by Be Active North Carolina shows that physical

inactivity and other unhealthy lifestyle choices are robbing North

Carolina's economy of more than $24 billion each year.

The study, called " The Economic Cost of Unhealthy Lifestyles in

North Carolina, " cites four important risk factors among adults that

contribute to the annual loss of $24.1 billion in public and private

money.

These risk factors are a lack of physical activity (nearly $9

billion); excess weight ($9.7 billion); type II diabetes ($3

billion); and inadequate fruit and vegetable consumption ($2.4

billion).

The cost falls largely to employers in the form of health insurance

and lost productivity. Broken into categories, it can be traced to

direct and indirect health care expenses ($8 billion); lost

productivity ($16.1 billion); and workers' compensation ($18

million).

To put the $24.1 billion figure in perspective, the entire annual

budget for the state of North Carolina is about $17 billion,

according to a news release on the study.

As alarming as the findings are, the study suggests things are

likely to get worse.

Without aggressive efforts to reverse the trend, the annual drain on

North Carolina's economy could jump to more than $36 billion by 2008.

Shellie Pfohl, executive director of Be Active North Carolina, said

the findings are startling — even for those who long have expressed

concern about the physical health and wellness of North Carolinians.

" We knew obesity and other problems created health threats and

damaged the quality of life for many North Carolinians, but with

this report we now see the extent to which these problems are

hurting our economy, " Pfohl said. " This provides tangible, solid

evidence about what unhealthy lifestyles are costing our bottom

line. The challenge is to convince North Carolinians to take genuine

steps toward improvement. "

Funded solely by Be Active North Carolina, the study was conducted

by Chenoweth & Associates, a New Bern-based econometrics consulting

firm.

The analysis is broken into two main sections — one focusing on

adults and the other on children. The findings are based on

statistics gleaned primarily from the 2003 calendar year, so all

cost figures reflect 2003 dollars.

Many of the statistics describing prevalence of physical activity,

weight and other factors were gathered from the 2002 and 2003 N.C.

Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Surveys.

Obesity at Core

Obesity and related problems are at the core of the report's

findings. Obesity is rapidly becoming " the defining disease of our

generation, " the report says.

During the last decade, North Carolina has experienced one of the

fastest-growing rates of adult obesity in the nation. More than half

of all adult North Carolinians (59 percent) are overweight or obese.

The number of adults with type II diabetes, which is closely linked

to obesity, has nearly doubled in the last decade, rising from 4.5

to 8.5 percent.

The news is not much better for young people. The report concludes

that the combined cost of physical inactivity, excess weight and

type II diabetes among North Carolina's children is estimated to be

at least $38.16 million annually. Without improvement, that figure

is expected to rise to $57 million by 2008.

Nearly 14 percent of children in rural North Carolina have three

early risk factors for diabetes and heart disease. Twenty-five

percent of children in rural areas are overweight. Statewide, 13

percent of young people are overweight, while an additional 14

percent are at risk of becoming overweight.

An astounding 76 percent of North Carolina children did not

participate in even moderate physical activity on five or more of

the past seven days.

Pfohl said concerns about unhealthy lifestyles among children are

especially sobering if you consider the impact they will have on

health-care costs well into the future.

" If we think medical costs are out of control now, what's it going

to be like when this new generation of children become adults and

enter the workforce, " she said. " That has potential to be even more

devastating for employers and others who must bear the financial

burden. "

Bob Greczyn, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of

North Carolina, the state's largest health insurer, said it is

critical for North Carolinians to make adjustments now to prevent

higher costs later.

" If we all take care of ourselves, we can help bring down costs. If

we don't, then we'll all pay more in the future, " said Greczyn, who

chairs Be Active North Carolina's Campaign Cabinet, a group of

corporate and community leaders who help garner resources for Be

Active's work.

Lt. Gov. Bev Perdue, who also serves on Be Active's Campaign

Cabinet, agreed.

" We have known the human cost of unhealthy behaviors for quite some

time, " Perdue said. " But Be Active's study shows there is a dramatic

economic cost as well. We must spend our energy and funding

upstream: on prevention programs that keep adults and children

healthy and that instill the value of a healthy, active lifestyle. "

Rising Health-Care Costs

State Treasurer said the challenges facing employers

as a result of rising health-care costs are very real.

" Whether it's General Motors or the state of North Carolina, all

employers are facing rising health-care costs due in part to

obesity, " said , who also serves on the campaign

cabinet. " These costs are passed on to consumers and citizens

through higher price tags in the marketplace and higher taxes to pay

for the state's health plan and Medicaid.

" North Carolina will not remain competitive in the global economy

unless we lower these costs by improving the health of our families

and communities. "

The report does offer encouragement by suggesting that only slight

improvement in certain areas could make a positive difference. For

instance, a 5 percent improvement in all four primary risk areas —

physical activity, excess weight, type II diabetes and diet — would

save the state's economy $1.54 billion each year.

Other Highlights

Other highlights from the report include:

n Across the state, 23.5 percent of adults are obese, while another

35.5 percent are overweight. These weight problems were responsible

for $9.74 billion in total expenses in 2003.

n More than 62 percent of adult North Carolinians are classified as

physically inactive. Physical inactivity was responsible for at

least $8.97 billion in total expenses in 2003.

n An overweight young adult in North Carolina will incur more than

$22,000 in direct medical expenses resulting from excess weight by

the mid-point of his or her career. That figure will rise to

$200,000 near the worker's retirement.

n Each overweight child in North Carolina is likely to require more

than $200,000 in medical expenses resulting directly from excess

weight alone in his or her lifetime.

n If the $24.1 billion burden on our economy were shouldered evenly

by all adults in North Carolina, each would be responsible for

$3,800 annually.

n If the $24.1 billion burden on our economy were shouldered evenly

by all employers in North Carolina, each would be responsible for

$120,000 annually.

Copies of the report will be made available to all members of the

General Assembly and other policy-makers throughout the state. The

report also can be viewed by visiting the Be Active North Carolina

Web site at www.beactivenc.org.

Making Strides

While Pfohl urged North Carolinians to take the report's findings

seriously, she also reminded people that making strides toward

physical health should not be intimidating.

" We want people to get more physical activity and to make better

choices, but we want them to have fun doing it, " she

said. " Increasing our physical activity levels doesn't mean we all

have to run marathons. Just taking a brisk walk around the

neighborhood or playing outdoors with the kids counts too. As long

as we're moving, we're making progress. "

Be Active North Carolina is a nonprofit organization devoted to

physical activity and healthy lifestyles for all North Carolinians.

Based in Chapel Hill, it has programs in place in all the state's

100 counties.

Among those programs is the Active Steps @ Work walking program,

which encourages increased physical activity at the workplace. This

is a turnkey program that allows employers to develop and implement

walking programs designed to meet the needs and interests of their

employees.

In addition to any direct health benefits, workers often report

higher morale and reduced stress.

Also popular is Active Steps, which integrates technology with

physical activity to motivate people to become more active at home,

school or wherever they might be. Active Steps encourages North

Carolinians to use electronic pedometers to measure their steps,

then to log those steps online.

Since Active Steps began in 2001, more than 200 million steps have

been logged. Right now, the Active Steps electronic pedometers are

being sold at a reduced price. To purchase a pedometer — or any

other Be Active gear, including the popular Be Active wristbands —

please visit www.beactivenc.org.