Read Getting Set for an Active Nation - Sport New Zealand

Cost of Lives Lost
The causal relationship between physical inertia and heightened health risks suggests
that, in Australia for example, 122 deaths per year from coronary heart disease, noninsulin
dependent diabetes and colon cancer may be prevented for each 1% increase
of the population who achieve a level of sufficient physical activity (Stephenson et al.,
1996 p.vii-viii). Unnecessary deaths have impacts upon medical costs and lost
contributions to the national economy.
The most persuasive proof concerns the prevention of coronary heart disease, which
continues to kill more New Zealanders, often at a relatively young age, than any other
disease. Individuals who are regularly active have half the risk from this disease than
those with a sedentary lifestyle (Berlin and Colditz, 1990; Powell et al., 1987), and in
the United States one-third of the annual deaths from coronary disease can be
attributed to insufficient physical activity (Powell and Blair, 1994).
4.4 The Cost of Doing Nothing
The Taskforce asks the question, “How much does it matter to New Zealanders to save
lives and reduce expenditure by supporting physical activity, recreation and sport?”
The evidence of physical activity as the key to making New Zealand a healthier nation
underpins social and economic benefits. Governments have been told this but have
consistently abstained from addressing this as the key to a fitter and more productive
society. Government must support physical activity as active lives prevent illness and
generate a more productive elderly sector.
Physical activity results in economic benefits and significant savings for New Zealand in
direct medical costs (e.g. ambulance, in-patient and out-patient treatment,
rehabilitation, medical services, pharmaceuticals consumption), and indirect costs
(such as the loss of productivity or absences from the workplace, and costs ensuing
from the reduction of quality of life due to pain, disability, bereavement or suffering).
• An example of the result of governmental inaction is seen in relation to some
7,800 New Zealanders who die each year from coronary disease, colon cancer and
diabetes, with one-sixth to one-fifth attributed to physical inactivity. Doing nothing
will mean the wasted deaths of 1,300 of the New Zealanders each year.
• In 1996, the avoidable mortality rate for Maori (0-74 years) was 2.5 times, and for
Pacific people 2.0 times, higher than the European/Other rate.
• Maori and Pacific people (0-74 years) have rates of avoidable hospitalisation about
60 percent higher than European/Others.
• In 1997-98, almost one-third of all the hospitalisations in the 0-74 years age group
were potentially avoidable, through health promotion or primary health care.
• Physical inactivity accounts for about eight percent of annual deaths with obesity
and diabetes each responsible for about four to five percent of these deaths.
Ministerial Taskforce on Sport, Fitness & Leisure January 2001 page 48 of 153