Health study shows economic burden of smoking, overeating, inactivity

A new report published in the Canadian Journal of Public Health narrowsdown the annual cost of health care, per individual, of peoplewho smoke, areoverweight and avoidexercise.

Nova Scotia'schief public health officer RobertStrangsays those statistics are useful for makingdecisions on fundingprevention and wellness programs.

He was not surprised at the numbers which show the annualhealth care costper smoker is$3,071,$1,453 for excess weightand $712 for those who are physically inactive.

However, he said he did not believe costs associated with the risk factors will persuade people to change their behaviours.

"I don't believe people will respond to the argument about them costing the system X-amount of dollars, I think the economic figures like this are important to make the case for decision makers and leaders in government around why we need to invest in prevention," Strang said.

Obesity outranks smoking in health care costs

"We need to do things differently ... I think the economic arguments help in that because at the end of the day governments always focus on the dollar," he said.

Obesity now outranks smoking as biggest contributor to chronic illness costs, the research found.

Nationally, the estimated annual economic burden attributedtoexcess weight is now25 per cent higher compared to that of tobacco smoking,$23.3 billioncompared to $18.7 billion.

Smokers number 17.1 per cent of the population,while 46.1 per cent of the population is overweight, the report found.

Thestudy showed that British Columbia continues to have the lowest rates of smoking,excess weight and physical inactivity. If all provinces reduced risk factorsto B.C. rates,there would be a 10percent reduction in the economic burden, it said.

Individual blame inappropriate

Strangsaid it is inappropriate to place all the blame for those risk factors onindividuals.

"The socioeconomic environment, our genetic background, family circumstances, levels of education are all important factorsin our risk for disease, healthy or unhealthy behaviours." he said.

The study'sfigures includeindirect costs to economy andbusinesses due to absenteeism and insurance costs.

"They're major factors if we want to create a sustainable health-care system, also a more vibrant sustainable economy. We have todo things that are going to reduce risk factors, are going to reduce chronic disease," Strang said.

According to the report,Nova Scotia has the second highest rate of smoking in the country afterNewfoundland and Labrador andplaces fifth in the numbers of people who are overweight andphysically inactive.