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• The Physical Inactivity Economic Cost and Burden Data in Developing Countries
  Satwika Arya Pratama
  Published on: 7 November 2018

• Published on: 7 November 2018

  The Physical Inactivity Economic Cost and Burden Data in Developing Countries

  • Satwika Arya Pratama, Researcher/Master Student College of Nutrition, School of Nutrition & Health Sciences Taipei Medical University

  Thank you to the authors for emphasizing this topic. Physical inactivity remains the big problem and major pandemic in the world. Besides Sweden, many developing and developed countries have this serious problems. Researchers may suggest that physical inactivity cost lead to bigger healthcare cost and economic burden in the future. Physical inactivity is contributed to about 6-10% of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer(1). Global physical inactivity cost is estimated $67.5 billions in total which consist direct cost around $53.8 billions and indirect cost around $13.7 billions (2). As for Europe and North America, it remains higher cost than in Asia. In China, the total cost of physical inactivity is estimated total about $6.7 billions (3). As for Korea, cost as much as 83.6 million was contributed to physical inactivity(4). While in North America and Europe, it remains high each $28.9 billions and $15.5 billions in total cost (2).

  It is much appreciated that the research filling the gap of data especially in Sweden. Other countries especially developing countries, should have the same idea about calculating the economic cost of physical inactivity. The current data in developing countries are inadequate, both direct and indirect cost which are very important. So that, the government can realize the important and dangerous effects of physical inactivity. Implementation should be underlined more on promotive and preventive action rath...

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  Thank you to the authors for emphasizing this topic. Physical inactivity remains the big problem and major pandemic in the world. Besides Sweden, many developing and developed countries have this serious problems. Researchers may suggest that physical inactivity cost lead to bigger healthcare cost and economic burden in the future. Physical inactivity is contributed to about 6-10% of ischaemic heart disease, stroke, diabetes, breast and colon cancer(1). Global physical inactivity cost is estimated $67.5 billions in total which consist direct cost around $53.8 billions and indirect cost around $13.7 billions (2). As for Europe and North America, it remains higher cost than in Asia. In China, the total cost of physical inactivity is estimated total about $6.7 billions (3). As for Korea, cost as much as 83.6 million was contributed to physical inactivity(4). While in North America and Europe, it remains high each $28.9 billions and $15.5 billions in total cost (2).

  It is much appreciated that the research filling the gap of data especially in Sweden. Other countries especially developing countries, should have the same idea about calculating the economic cost of physical inactivity. The current data in developing countries are inadequate, both direct and indirect cost which are very important. So that, the government can realize the important and dangerous effects of physical inactivity. Implementation should be underlined more on promotive and preventive action rather than curative one. It can be emphasized in cost-effectiveness programme that can intervene the factors of physical inactivity. Another thing, the data are not updated yet. The current global and regional data in 2013 and need to be regularly updated (2).

  Reference:
  (1) Lee, I. M., Shiroma, E. J., Lobelo, F., Puska, P., Blair, S. N., & Katzmarzyk, P. T. (2012). Effect of physical inactivity on major non-communicable diseases worldwide: an analysis of burden of disease and life expectancy. Lancet, 380(9838), 219-229. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(12)61031-9
  (2) Ding, D., Lawson, K. D., Kolbe-Alexander, T. L., Finkelstein, E. A., Katzmarzyk, P. T., van Mechelen, W., & Pratt, M. (2016). The economic burden of physical inactivity: a global analysis of major non-communicable diseases. Lancet, 388(10051), 1311-1324. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)30383-x
  (3) Zhang, J., & Chaaban, J. (2013). The economic cost of physical inactivity in China. Prev Med, 56(1), 75-78. doi:10.1016/j.ypmed.2012.11.010
  (4) Min, J. Y., & Min, K. B. (2016). Excess Medical Care Costs Associated with Physical Inactivity among Korean Adults: Retrospective Cohort Study. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 13(1). doi:10.3390/ijerph13010136

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  Conflict of Interest:
  None declared.

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