Health = Wealth

Here’s an interesting thought: you can’t buy good health, but good health will bring you wealth. That’s not just a saying – it is a fact!

At every socioeconomic level, there is a direct correlation between someone's health and wealth. A 2010 study from the National Bureau of Economic Research found that the healthiest people accumulate at least 50 percent more assets in retirement than those with the poorest health. Studies show that for any given income level, Americans are less healthy than those with a higher income (i.e., earnings and other money acquired each year). It easy to understand the relationship between health and wealth at the extremes – the very poor and the very wealthy. In fact, the relationship between income and health is step-wise gradient connecting every level of the economic ladder. Middle-class Americans are healthier than those living at or near the poverty level, but are less healthy than the upper class. Even wealthy Americans are less healthy than those with even higher incomes.

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In my books 30 Minute Body and Fitness Results Training Book, I focus on these components to developing health and fitness:

1. a proper muscle-strengthening program;

2. diet based on whole natural foods; and

3. adequate rest.

What I discovered is that when my clients focus on these three components, they are able to make fast improvements in both health and fitness. As health and fitness improved, they had more energy and became more efficient, thus providing more time and the desire to be more active in other aerobic activities like walking, hiking, kayaking or fun outdoor activities. When I changed my recommendation to clients from daily aerobic exercise to focusing on muscle-strengthening, nutrition and rest, I started seeing much faster health and fitness improvements.

I believe the reason for the improvement in health and fitness results is removing the stress of finding time for cardio training. Removing the stress frees up valuable time that can be used on things that will make a much bigger impact on health and fitness and result in faster improvements in both muscle-strengthening and cardiovascular conditioning.

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America's Health Care Crisis

A report by the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) titled: Economic Benefits of Regular Exercise noted that health care costs in the United States have reached $2.2 trillion, or more than $7,000 per person, or 16% of GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Health care spending is expected to reach $4.2 trillion by 2017, or approximately $13,100 per person, representing nearly 20% of GDP. More than half of all Americans suffer from one or more of these chronic conditions: diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, stroke, pulmonary conditions, cancers and mental health disorders. The cost of diagnosis and treatment for these conditions accounts for more than 75% of the nation’s annual health care costs. What is the solution?

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While there is no single answer, it is clear that most chronic diseases can be prevented or improved with regular exercise. Rather than seeking out costly cures, we need to act on the knowledge that exercise is a powerful, affordable and accessible form of medicine.

It is staggering to think that if all physically inactive Americans were to begin exercising, we as a nation could realize a savings of $77 billion in direct medical costs each year. Right now in America, affordable health care is a hot topic and one of the nation’s biggest problems. If we implemented the suggestions in this article and followed the program in my books 30 Minute Body and Fitness Results Training Book and used the Fitness Results Training System we would have a nation of healthy, wealthy and happy people.

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Corporate Wellness Programs

Some employers are beginning to recognize the economic benefits of having healthy employees. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the number of employers offering wellness benefits rose from 57% in 2003 to 68% in 2007. Why are more employers offering wellness benefits? The IHRSA study Economic Benefits of Regular Exercise provides an answer. The prevalence of disease in the U.S. population is contributing to employer health care costs and to lost productivity due to absenteeism, disability, and “presenteeism” (being sick at work). Many conditions affecting a company’s workforce are preventable and can be improved with regular physical activity.

Working Americans are on the job an average of 7.56 hours, or about half their waking hours. This makes the workplace a useful and practical setting for introducing health and wellness related initiatives to benefit employees, their families and employers. The potential benefits of corporate wellness programs for employees include improved physical and mental health, lower personal medical costs, and less absence from work.

The benefits for employers include:

[if !supportLists]● [endif]A happier, more productive work force

[if !supportLists]● [endif]Lower employee health care expenses

[if !supportLists]● [endif]Lower rates of absenteeism

[if !supportLists]● [endif]Reduced disability and workers compensation claims

[if !supportLists]● [endif]The ability to attract and retain talented employees

Illness and injury associated with an unhealthy lifestyle and modifiable risk factors can account for 25% of employee health care expenditures. Stress, smoking, being overweight and lack of exercise contribute substantially to medical expenditures. Jobs in which employees are sedentary are at risk as well, read this article from Inc Magazine. Employees who work out and maintain a healthy body weight have lower health care costs, fewer absences and increased productivity compared to inactive employees who are overweight or obese.

Return on investment among companies that offer wellness benefits vary depending on the type of program and participation. Researchers have documented between a $1.49 to $13 return for every dollar invested in employee wellness. Programs that typically yield the most success are tailored to the specific needs of a company’s work force and use specific measures to track results.

As you can see, not only does being healthy and active at a young age result in better test scores and learning, it is just as beneficial as we get older. The benefits to maintaining health and fitness are proven by the growing number of business offering wellness benefits to employees. These companies are realizing a high return on every dollar spent – as much as 13 times investment. In addition, their employees are benefiting financially, physically and mentally. If a company is willing to invest in your well being to be more profitable as a byproduct of your health and fitness, just think of how much more it will benefit you directly by take charge of your own health, fitness and wealth.

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