Costs of physical inactivity in West Virginia

Estimate the costs of physical inactivity in West Virginia, a rural, Appalachian state of less than 2 million people.

Using the most recent year in which complete data were available and a previously developed algorithm, we estimated the costs of physical inactivity in the state of West Virginia.

West Virginia.

Adults in West Virginia.

Not applicable.

Total annual costs associated with physical inactivity as well as costs associated with medical care, workers' compensation, and lost worker productivity. Cost estimates were also calculated based on a decrease in physical inactivity of 5%.

In 2005, the total estimated annual costs associated with physical inactivity were $1,309,544,068, ($1,060,383,138 from lost worker productivity, $245,631,484 from medical care, and $3,528,446 from workers' compensation). With a decrease of 5% in the prevalence of physical inactivity, total annual costs were reduced by $108,048,190 ($87,490,440 from lost worker productivity, $20,266,624 from medical care, and $291,126 from workers' compensation). Overall total cost savings were equivalent to a relative reduction of 8.25%.

The costs associated with physical inactivity in the state of West Virginia are high. Improved efforts should be made to decrease the prevalence of physical inactivity in West Virginia adults.