The Surprising Link Betwen Personal Finance and Personal Fitnessby Doug Jackson, M.Ed., CSCS (Quick note: I am now accepting personal training clients in Weston, Florida. Limited spots available. Email me at doug@personalfitnessadvantage.com for details.)
I saw the top story in the business section of the Columbus Dispatch today and knew I had to write to you about it. The headline reads, “Illnesses fuel bankruptcy filings.” In the article, Dr. David Himmelstein, of Harvard Medical School, states “Unless you’re Bill Gates, you’re just one serious illness away from bankruptcy.” This was thought provoking, especially since I’m not Bill Gates. The study found that the illness and the medical bills associated with the illness were cited as the cause of 46.2% of personal bankruptcies. I guess that’s just one more reason to stick to your exercise program. Essentially, we could extrapolate and suggest that diseases related to inactivity are a major contributor to personal bankruptcies across the United States. According to the Physical Activity and Health, a report of the Surgeon General, “millions of Americans suffer from illnesses that can be prevented or improved through regular physical activity”. •13.5 million people have coronary heart disease. •1.5 million people suffer from a heart attack in a given year. •8 million people have adult-onset (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes. •95,000 people are newly diagnosed with colon cancer each year. •250,000 people suffer from a hip fractures each year. •50 million people have high blood pressure. •Over 60 million people (a third of the population) are overweight. Now, I realize that no one is going to go bankrupt from high blood pressure. However, I do believe that many of us forget the economic costs of poor lifestyle choices. Would you like to improve your performance at work? Could improved performance lead to a promotion, more income, a better lifestyle? Consider these facts which were highlighted in the excellent book, The Power of Full Engagement, by Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz: -In a study of eighty executives over a nine-month period, those who worked out regularly demonstrated a 70% improvement in their ability to make complex decisions. -At Union Pacific Railroad, 75% of employees reported that regular exercise improved their concentration and overall productivity at work. And how about this fact for companies who are interested in keeping employees healthy: -The Coors Brewing Company found that it got as much as a $6.15 return for every $1 invested in a corporate fitness program. (I found this somewhat ironic considering the nature of their business...) Sign up for Doug's can't miss newsletter, Fitness Empowerment Ask Doug your most pressing fitness-related question Schedule a FREE phone consultation |