We all know physical activity and a healthy diet are key to quality of life and to help increase longevity. A large proportion of Canadian adults are at increased risk for poor health outcomes as the majority (82.5%) do not meet PA (physical activity) guidelines. https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/82-003-x/2020009/article/00002-eng.htm
We may think oh well this doesn’t impact me so what? Take a look below how it can be beneficial for all of us in one way or another.
EDMONTON, AB, July 6, 2022 /CNW/ – In a landmark global report on the impact of the health and fitness sector, the Health and Fitness Industry was proven to have a “profound” economic and social impact on countries all around the world and showed “inactivity is costly, and exercise means big savings.” In Canada, a per capita investment of $2000 in activity would deliver a return on investment within only one year.
The findings, presented June 23rd, of that same year, in Miami at the IHRSA global conference, published The Economic Health and Societal Well-Being: Quantifying The Impact of the Global Health and Fitness Sector, which analysed the economic and social benefits of the health and fitness industry in 46 countries.
- The Canadian Fitness Industry directly supports 83.2 thousand jobs and indirectly supports 20.8 thousand jobs;
- Inactivity costs the Canadian healthcare system $3.9 billion dollars – of which $2.7 billion is borne by public health systems;
- Productivity loss, due to lack of sufficient physical activity, was valued at $7.9 billion dollars annually;
- Each insufficiently active worker costs the Canadian economy approximately $2068 in healthcare costs and lost productivity;
- An investment of $2000 in helping an inactive person become active results in a payback period of less than one year, on average, in terms of benefit to the overall economy and society.
- https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/global-report-the-results-are-in-inactivity-is-costly-and-exercise-means-big-savings–860416484.html
Now add a healthy diet and other alternative holistic therapies to that and numbers get even better. Also, a very important factor to recognize, is that our mental health improves greatly with all these things in place. According to the Center for addiction and mental health, 1 in 5 Canadians experience a mental illness in any given year and even increases over a lifetime. https://www.camh.ca/en/driving-change/the-crisis-is-real/mental-health-statistics.
The reason this number seems to be so high is that we can all experience a form of a mental health issue. Examples include: anxiety and mood disorders that cover many issues as, panic attacks, social anxiety, specific phobias, excessive worry, fear, apprehension, sadness/depression, mood swings and hopelessness. Then there are more specific mental health disorders as: ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder), OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder), Schizophrenia, Personality, Eating, Substance use, Dissociative and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). It is important to note that all disorders can get more severe from not recognizing the disorder to ignoring, refusing and or denying the disorder. Also, no matter what the mental health issues, a healthy lifestyle will always have a positive impact.
There are so many ways to take steps to a healthier lifestyle, as already noted and it doesn’t have to be that hard or overwhelming, start small. Eat balanced, eat whole foods – not processed, and drink plenty of water. Take a time out, have a bath, read a book, or meditate. Exercise in a way that you don’t think you are, dancing to a few favourite tunes, marching on the spot while folding laundry or doing dishes, to walking your dog. In fact, just having a dog or pet can have so many healthy influences on our lives from reducing stress, anxiety, depression to easing loneliness and encouraging exercise. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-bond-for-life-pets/pets-as-coworkers/pets-and-mental-health.
These are among the many things that we at DEEM (Diet Exercise Education Mindset) Health, help you to incorporate into a healthy lifestyle. Book a free consultation to get your health journey started.
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