A new study published in the American Journal of Health Promotion has revealed the enormous economic toll of physical inactivity in the United States. The researchers found that inadequate leisure-time aerobic physical activity accounts for roughly $192 billion in annual healthcare costs among U.S. adults, representing 12.6% of the country’s total healthcare expenditure. Drawing on data from over 76,000 adults collected between 2012 and 2019, the study highlights the far-reaching financial and health consequences of insufficient movement in daily life.
The findings paint a troubling picture of national activity patterns. Just over half of adults surveyed (52.4%) met the recommended aerobic activity guidelines, while 20.4% were classified as insufficiently active and 27.3% reported being completely inactive. On average, an adult incurred $6,566 in annual healthcare costs. Yet these costs rose significantly when linked to activity levels: adults who were insufficiently active incurred an additional $1,355 per year compared to their active peers. In contrast, inactive adults faced $2,025 more in annual healthcare spending. These disparities underscore the direct financial impact of sedentary behaviour.
Dr Adam Chen, co-author and professor at the University of Georgia’s College of Public Health, stressed the importance of seeing physical activity not as an optional pursuit but as a fundamental investment in health. “Aerobic physical activity is an investment in health—it strengthens the heart, reduces chronic disease burdens, and empowers us to live with energy and freedom,” he explained. Despite incremental national gains in activity levels, healthcare costs continue to escalate, largely due to preventable chronic conditions that could be mitigated through increased movement.
Other researchers involved in the study emphasised the role of healthcare providers and systems in addressing this crisis. Laurie Whitsel, PhD, National Vice President of Policy Research at the American Heart Association and Senior Advisor to the Physical Activity Alliance, noted that the results should encourage action across the health sector. “These findings provide further economic reasons for health systems, payers, and clinicians to integrate physical activity assessment, prescription, and referral into healthcare delivery. We need to inspire and support people to make physical activity a regular part of their day,” she said.
The CDC echoed this call to action, pointing to the simplicity of the solution. Co-author Jennifer Matjasko, PhD, of the CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, reminded the public that small steps can add up to meaningful change. “Moving more throughout the day can help improve health and reduce healthcare costs,” she explained. “Every step counts toward a healthier future.” The message reflects a broader effort to highlight physical activity as a low-cost, widely accessible tool for both preventing disease and reducing national health expenditure.
In light of these findings, the Physical Activity Alliance—the nation’s largest coalition devoted to advancing physical activity policy—has called for coordinated action across multiple sectors. Their recommendations include making physical activity a standard element of medical care, redesigning workplaces to counter sedentary cultures, and transforming communities to ensure that physical activity is safe, accessible, and unavoidable in daily routines. As Michael Stack, ACSM-EP, President of the Alliance, put it: “We’re spending nearly one out of every eight health care dollars on something we can prevent. We need to view physical activity as an essential healthcare solution to inspire people to move across their day—in recreation, to and from work, in their jobs, at home and in schools.”
More information: Jennifer Matjasko et al, Inadequate Aerobic Physical Activity and Healthcare Expenditures in the United States: An Updated Cost Estimate, American Journal of Health Promotion. DOI: 10.1177/08901171251357128
Journal information: American Journal of Health Promotion Provided by Physical Activity Alliance