title: Inadequate physical activity and health care expenditures in the United States.
abstract: This study estimates the percentage of health care expenditures in the non-institutionalized United States (U.S.) adult population associated with levels of physical activity inadequate to meet current guidelines. Leisure-time physical activity data from the National Health Interview Survey (2004-2010) were merged with health care expenditure data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (2006-2011). Health care expenditures for inactive (i.e., no physical activity) and insufficiently active adults (i.e., some physical activity but not enough to meet guidelines) were compared with active adults (i.e., ≥150minutes/week moderate-intensity equivalent activity) using an econometric model. Overall, 11.1% (95% CI: 7.3, 14.9) of aggregate health care expenditures were associated with inadequate physical activity (i.e., inactive and insufficiently active levels). When adults with any reported difficulty walking due to a health problem were excluded, 8.7% (95% CI: 5.2, 12.3) of aggregate health care expenditures were associated with inadequate physical activity. Increasing adults' physical activity to meet guidelines may reduce U.S. health care expenditures.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA. Electronic address: scarlson1@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Susan A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.affiliation: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Janet E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Fulton
authors.affiliation: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA; Hubert Department of Global Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pratt
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Policy and Management, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA.
authors.forename: E Kathleen
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002201:Capital Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003710:Demography; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D017408:Guidelines as Topic; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D011634:Public Health / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D063586:Social Validity, Research; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014481:United States
keywords: BMI; Body Mass Index; Exercise; Health care; Health expenditures; MEPS; Medical Expenditure Panel Survey; NHIS; National Health Interview Survey; Physical activity; U.S.; United States