AusLeisure

Key industry bodies in New Zealand, including Outdoors New Zealand, Sport NZ and Active Canterbury, are highlighting a recent study, undertaken by Waikato Regional Council, Auckland Council and Greater Wellington Regional Council, into the impact of physical inactivity on public health.

According to the study, undertaken by Market Economics, the cost of approximately half of New Zealand's population not undertaking adequate physical activity is approximately $1.3 billion in 2010 ($106 million for the Waikato region, $402 million for the Auckland region and $141 million for Wellington).

According to a statement on the Outdoors NZ website "physical inactivity is a serious public health issue in New Zealand, as it is in many other countries of the world, causing significant economic costs."

First released in February, the study explains how the costs of physical inactivity are separated into direct health costs associated with treatment in the health care system, indirect health costs associated with living with disability/disease and dying prematurely and other costs associated with physical inactivity, including promoting activity and information campaigns relating to physical well-being.

The study found that the costs of treating cardiovascular diseases attributed to physical inactivity are the highest, and of cardiovascular diseases, strokes are the costliest. Coronary heart disease had the highest indirect costs for all regions, largely due to the high mortality rates associated with this disease. This was followed by colorectal cancer in Wellington and Auckland, whereas, in Waikato stroke was second highest.

The study also acknowledges that local government plays an important role in motivating and providing for peoples physical activity, including providing transport infrastructure, active transport opportunities (cycling, walking, public transport, walking and buses), urban design and land use planning, and provision of parks and sport and leisure facilities.

The full study can be read at www.waikatoregion.govt.nz/PageFiles/25488/The_Costs_of_Physical_Inactivity.PDF

17th May 2013 - NEED FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY TO SHED ‘CINDERELLA’ STATUS IN CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION

22nd February 2013 - PHYSICAL INACTIVITY COSTS NEW ZEALAND ALMOST 1% OF GDP

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.