Share of Cost, Renewed Prescriptions For An Old Remedy: Physical Activity
An article published in 2014 in the British Journal of Sports Medicine summed up the data succinctly: “Physical inactivity is a leading cause of death worldwide.” Indeed, US and international public health and medical experts have converged on that view in the past decade, thanks to a large body of compelling research. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), physical inactivity is responsible for 3.2 million deaths annually and is the fourth-biggest risk for mortality, after high blood pressure, tobacco use, and elevated blood glucose. Respond effectively, wrestling with the complex task of converting knowledge into interventions that can boost people’s activity levels, whether they’re working, engaging in domestic chores, or enjoying leisure time. Despite such a striking and heavy
burden, policy makers have struggled to