New Zealand councils reveal full costs of physical inactivity

Key industry bodies in New Zealand, including Outdoors New Zealand, Sport NZ and Active Canterbury, are highlighting a recent study, undertaken by Waikato Regional Council, Auckland Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council, into the impact of physical inactivity on public health.

According to the study, undertaken by Market Economics, the cost of approximately half of New Zealand's population not undertaking adequate physical activity is approximately $1.3 billion in 2010 ($106 million for the Waikato region, $402 million for the Auckland region and $141 million for Wellington).

According to a statement on the Outdoors NZ website "physical inactivity is a serious public health issue in New Zealand, as it is in many other countries of the world, causing significant economic costs."

First released in February, the study explains how the costs of physical inactivity are separated into direct health costs associated with treatment in the health care system, indirect health costs associated with living with disability/disease and dying prematurely and other costs associated with physical inactivity, including promoting activity and information campaigns relating to physical well-being.

The study found that the costs of treating cardiovascular diseases attributed to physical inactivity are the highest, and of cardiovascular diseases, strokes are the costliest. Coronary heart disease had the highest indirect costs for all regions, largely due to the high mortality rates associated with this disease. This was followed by colorectal cancer in Wellington and Auckland, whereas, in Waikato stroke was second highest.

The study also acknowledges that local government plays an important role in motivating and providing for peoples physical activity, including providing transport infrastructure, active transport opportunities (cycling, walking, public transport, walking and buses), urban design and land use planning, and provision of parks and sport and leisure facilities.

The full study can be read at www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/PageFiles/25488/The_Costs_of_Physical_Inactivity.PDF

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