Closing the socioeconomic gap in physical activity levels among American youth aged 6-17 could save over $15 billion in direct medical costs and productivity losses, according to a new study from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). The research, published in JAMA Health Forum, found that youth from lower socioeconomic groups get 10-15% less physical activity on average compared to those from higher socioeconomic groups.
Lead author Tiffany Powell-Wiley, MD, MPH, Chief of NHLBI’s Social Determinants of Obesity and Cardiovascular Risk Laboratory, emphasized the economic benefits of reducing these disparities. The study projects that eliminating the gap could decrease obesity and overweight prevalence by 0.83%, preventing 101,000 weight-related disease cases, including stroke, coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. This could save 191,000 years of life across the youth cohort’s lifetime.
Powell-Wiley noted that improving conditions for those of lower socioeconomic status could benefit everyone in the country. The findings highlight the importance of addressing health disparities and the underrepresentation of marginalized communities in research and interventions aimed at promoting physical activity among youth.
“Eliminating socioeconomic disparities in youth physical activity could save over $15 billion, study shows” 2024-04-27
