Raising Physical Activity Benefits Global GDP by Billions of Dollars

Healthful Vitality | 12/08/2022 | Raising Physical Activity Benefits Global GDP by Billions of Dollars

It appears that everyone is focusing on generating wealth. However, for any society to be happy, the focus must shift to prosperity. Prosperity is not just about material abundance but also other factors like health and happiness. One of the most effective ways of prospering society could be by focusing on good health and physical activity.

Raising physical activity benefits global GDP by billions of dollars

There is an old saying that if wealth is lost, nothing is lost; if health is lost, something is lost; if the character is lost, all is lost. Increasing physical activity can ensure one has a healthy brain and sound body, and wealth will follow naturally. Even studies are now showing that global GDP can be boosted significantly by focusing on physical activity.

To date, most economists, and policymakers, have focused extensively on various economic measures and how they can boost GDP. However, it appears that everyone is forgetting that a simple measure of just increasing physical activity may considerably boost global GDP.

Approach to increasing global GDP by raising physical activity levels

In a recently published report, RAND EUROPE proposes a three-pronged approach to increasing global GDP by raising physical activity levels:

• Most professional organizations, including American Heart Association, recommend that people exercise at least 150 minutes a week. However, one-third of adults are not meeting these goals. Thus, researchers suggest that billions can be added to the global GDP by ensuring that everyone meets this minimum goal.
• The second way of improving global GDP by billions could be working on a flat recommendation in which everyone focuses on boosting physical activity levels by 20 percent.
• The third approach could be that those who do not meet physical activity level goals ensure they engage in 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise weekly. And rest of the population focuses on increasing physical activity levels by 20%.

There could be many ways of achieving these targets: 

• Policymakers to people must change their behavior and attitudes toward physical activity. They must understand that physical activity can make them wealthy and prosperous.
• Provide an environment for physical activity. In many nations, people are not engaging in physical activities due to the lack of infrastructure, green spaces, parks, gyms, and other amenities needed for increasing physical activity levels.
• Introducing physical activity programs. Some population groups find it hard to engage in physical activity due to a lack of resources. However, introducing physical activity programs at the national level may help improve health and boost national GDP.
• Building physical activity tradition across society. People in some nations are healthier than others due to certain habits and the culture of physical activity. Therefore, countries with low physical activity may introduce programs to promote the shift in society. Once everyone starts engaging in physical activity, people also start supporting and encouraging each other.

To conclude, increasing physical activity is one of the better ways of building national wealth and boosting national GDP and, thus, global GDP. Moreover, wealth created in this way can ensure both an increase in GDP in monetary terms and prosperity.

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