TORONTO, November 28, 2000 -- The physical inactivity of Canadians cost the national health care system last year an estimated $2.1 billion dollars or 2.5 per cent of total direct health care costs that could have been prevented, according to the findings of a research team led by York University Professor Peter T. Katzmarzyk.

Published this week in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, the study notes that two-thirds of Canadians lead sedentary lives, and that the direct medical costs of this are significant, considering that cigarette smoking accounted for 3.8 per cent of total health care costs in 1992. "Given the considerable efforts that have been aimed at curbing the prevalence of smoking in Canada, public health campaigns directed at increasing physical activity in the population should be no less aggressive and persistent," writes Katzmarzyk.

The authors note that Canadians leading inactive lives put themselves at risk of developing a variety of chronic degenerative diseases leading to premature death. They estimate more than 21,000 lives were lost in 1995 due to illnesses directly attributable to physical inactivity. The authors conclude that about 36 per cent of deaths from heart disease,11 per cent of deaths from breast cancer, and 20 per cent of deaths from stroke, colon cancer and Type 2 diabetes could be avoided through regular exercise. "The health care system in Canada really needs to be turned around to focus on prevention of these diseases rather than treatment," says Katzmarzyk.

The study refers to a 1997 survey showing only 34 per cent of Canadians aged 25 to 55 years are meeting the recommendation in Canada’s Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living, which calls for one hour of low-intensity activity every day, or 30-60 minutes of moderate-intensity activity or 20-30 minutes of vigorous-intensity activity four to seven days a week. The authors suggest that reducing the prevalence of inactivity by just 10 per cent could reduce national health care costs by $150 million a year.

"A recent study showed a 4.7 per cent reduction in short-term (18 months) health care costs for each active day per week reported by participants. These results support those of earlier studies indicating significant health care savings associated with corporate fitness and health promotion programs," the authors write.

Katzmarzyk is an epidemiologist of physical activity, fitness and health in the School of Kinesiology and Health Science at York University. His research focuses on the interrelationships among physical activity, fitness and other risk factors for disease, with an emphasis on obesity and related disorders. He conducted this study with York Kinesiology Professor Norman Gledhill, and University of Toronto Professor Roy J. Shephard.

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For further information, please contact:

Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk
School of Kinesiology and Health Science
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 30308
katzmarz@yorku.ca

Susan Bigelow
Media Relations
York University
(416) 736-2100, ext. 22091
sbigelow@yorku.ca
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