HHS HealthBeat (December 05, 2008)

Money well spent

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Researchers say programs that get people to be physically active amount to money well spent. Analysts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention looked at community-based programs: mass media; social supports like walking groups, tailored programs and physically active environments, like fitness centers and walking trails.

Besides cost-effectiveness, CDC’s Larissa Roux checked rates of colon cancer, breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

``We found all of the physical activity interventions to be cost-effective and to offer good value for money, with gains in both survival and health-related quality of life.’’ (10 seconds)

Roux says the benefits for the money spent were in line with other health-related programs, such as education to quit smoking and to wear seat belts.

The study was in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: December, 05 2008