The last of the economic
issues I will address at this point is the one relating to health, or perhaps
the lack of it by many Americans who have become sedentary. Trails have
an impact on this issue, both nationally and locally. I will address the
national economic impact of health issues first.
Costs to businesses and individuals of a sedentary
lifestyle are, unfortunately, well documented.
The medical costs paid by
third-party payers for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of
normal weight. The
Center for Disease Control (CDC) has said that “Obesity is common, serious and costly, that more than
one-third of U.S. adults (35.7%) are obese, and that obesity-related conditions,
including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer
are costing Americans an estimated $147 billion. (http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html)
These
costs are avoidable by better dietary habits and exercising more. Trails provide residents with an easy way to
integrate exercise into their lives and, when that happens, money is saved by
individuals, employers and businesses, improving not just our bottom lines but our waistlines, too.
Outdoor exercise
improves our health and wellbeing and reduces the risks of cardiovascular
disease, diabetes, certain cancers, and obesity. Improved health prevents
nearly $800 million in medical care costs annually. The economic value increases to nearly $1.3
billion in savings when added to avoided workers’ compensation costs, and costs
related to lost productivity in addition to direct use benefits and avoided
medical care costs.
