Cost of Physical Inactivity is more than $24.3 Billion

$24.3 billion is an interesting amount.  It's the amount of money Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has to cut from his budget. In 2005 it was the amount consumers spent on renting or purchasing movies.  Okay, the data suggesting the cost of physical inactivity is outdated (2001-2004).  Reality... $147 billion. 

Metabolic Syndrome was first identified in 1920.  In 2004 a group of experts met to create a consensus statement to clarify standards to identify metabolic syndrome and define treatment strategies.

An interesting twist in current research is that electronic health records can identify primary care patients at risk of future diabetes and/or coronary heart disease by alerting the primary care physician when 2 or more metabolic syndrome criteria are present.

Take one guess what can reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome by 50%.  The answer is moderate to vigorous exercise for 180 minutes per week.

Where are physical therapists in this matter?

~Selena 

photo by Greg Robbins via Flickr