allender-burdenofphysical-2007.pdf (155.17 kB)
The burden of physical activity-related ill health in the UK
journal contribution
posted on 2007-04-01, 00:00 authored by Steven AllenderSteven Allender, C Foster, P Scarborough, M RaynerBackground: Despite evidence that physical inactivity is a risk factor for a number of diseases, only a third of men and a quarter of women are meeting government targets for physical activity. This paper provides an estimate of the economic and health burden of disease related to physical inactivity in the UK. These estimates are examined in relation to current UK government policy on physical activity.
Methods: Information from the World Health Organisation global burden of disease project was used to calculate the mortality and morbidity costs of physical inactivity in the UK. Diseases attributable to physical inactivity included ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic stroke, breast cancer, colon/rectum cancer and diabetes mellitus. Population attributable fractions for physical inactivity for each disease were applied to the UK Health Service cost data to estimate the financial cost.
Results: Physical inactivity was directly responsible for 3% of disability adjusted life years lost in the UK in 2002. The estimated direct cost to the National Health Service is £1.06 billion.
Conclusion: There is a considerable public health burden due to physical inactivity in the UK. Accurately establishing the financial cost of physical inactivity and other risk factors should be the first step in a developing national public health strategy.
Methods: Information from the World Health Organisation global burden of disease project was used to calculate the mortality and morbidity costs of physical inactivity in the UK. Diseases attributable to physical inactivity included ischaemic heart disease, ischaemic stroke, breast cancer, colon/rectum cancer and diabetes mellitus. Population attributable fractions for physical inactivity for each disease were applied to the UK Health Service cost data to estimate the financial cost.
Results: Physical inactivity was directly responsible for 3% of disability adjusted life years lost in the UK in 2002. The estimated direct cost to the National Health Service is £1.06 billion.
Conclusion: There is a considerable public health burden due to physical inactivity in the UK. Accurately establishing the financial cost of physical inactivity and other risk factors should be the first step in a developing national public health strategy.
History
Journal
Journal of epidemiology and community healthVolume
61Issue
4Pagination
344 - 348Publisher
BMJ GroupLocation
London, EnglandPublisher DOI
ISSN
0143-005XeISSN
1470-2738Language
engNotes
This article has been published in the BMJ, Allender, Steven, Foster, Charles, Scarborough, Peter and Rayner, Mike 2007-04, The burden of physical activity-related ill health in the UK, Journal of epidemiology and community health, vol. 61, no. 4, pp. 344- 348, and can also be viewed on the journal’s website at www.bmj.comPublication classification
C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2007, BMJ GroupUsage metrics
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