The additional health costs would be more than 520,000 million euros
MADRID, 27 Jun. (EUROPA PRESS) –
Physical inactivity will cause nearly 500 million new cases of preventable diseases in the next 8 years and will mean additional health costs of more than 520,000 million euros, according to the II Report on the Social and Economic Impact of the Physical Activity sector. and Sport prepared by the Observatory of the España Activa Foundation.
A recent WHO report estimates that by 2030 up to 499 million new cases of preventable Non-Communicable Diseases could arise with a direct economic impact on health costs of more than 520,000 million euros if the prevalence of physical inactivity is not addressed.
This is one of the main conclusions of the II Report on the Social and Economic Impact of the Physical Activity and Sport sector, presented by the España Activa Foundation Observatory during its Annual Meeting at the Higher Sports Council (CSD).
Thus, this document highlights the serious consequences of physical inactivity worldwide and the need to promote an active lifestyle to address this growing problem.
The event was attended by the president of the CSD, Víctor Francos Díaz, and the president of the España Activa Foundation and former Secretary of State for Sport, Jaime Lissavetzky.
“It is important to thank you for the work you do, you are one of the institutions that have become a reference for the CSD because you dedicate great efforts to research in our field, generating valuable information that helps us make decisions,” Francos commented.
The objective from the Fundación España Activa Observatory is to demonstrate in a solid and rigorous way the important social and economic value that both sport and the regular practice of physical activity have for the whole of Spanish society, explained Jaime Lissavetzky.
The research also reveals that the adoption of appropriate physical activity practices has a significant effect on health and life expectancy. In fact, if everyone in the 27 EU member states got at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise a week, more than 10,000 premature deaths a year would be prevented, similar to those caused by COVID-19 in France and Germany together in 2020.
In addition, increased physical activity could increase life expectancy by up to 7.5 months and reduce the burden of related diseases, such as depression, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and cancer, according to OECD data.
“These findings underscore the importance of taking urgent action to promote physical activity and avoid preventable diseases around the world. Physical inactivity not only impacts people’s health, but also the economy and health care systems. It is essential that governments, organizations and society in general come together to promote active lifestyles”, concluded Alfonso Jiménez, Director of the Fundación España Activa Observatory and one of the authors of the study.
During the event, the Fundación España Activa also presented its Annual Activities Report and made its members aware of its new campaign to promote sports practice in collaboration with the communicator Angie Rigueiro.