Research library

Source: UK Active 23.06.22

https://www.ukactive.com/news/fitness-and-leisure-sector-holds-key-to-getting-nations-workforce-physically-active-and-saving-uk-economy-up-to-17bn-a-year/

https://www.ihrsa.org/publications/economic-health-societal-well-being-quantifying-the-impact-of-the-global-health-fitness-sector/

ukactive has called on the Government and its partners to work with the fitness and leisure sector to get the nation’s workforce physically active, as new research from Deloitte shows it could benefit the UK economy by up to £17bn a year.

The landmark report, published on 23 June, was commissioned by IHRSA (International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association) on behalf of the Global Health and Fitness Alliance.

It shows:

• Physical inactivity costs the healthcare system in the UK $4.3bn (£3.5bn) annually, of which $3.6bn (£2.9bn) is borne by the public health system.
• Productivity loss due to a lack of sufficient activity was valued at $16.5bn (£13.5bn) per year.
• Each insufficiently active worker costs the nation’s economy approximately $1,713 (£1,400) in healthcare costs and lost productivity.
• Conversely, investing $1,700 (£1,389) in successfully helping an inactive person become active results in a payback period of less than one year, on average, in terms of benefit to the overall economy and society.

Together, the costings indicate that the potential economic benefit, in healthcare savings and increased productivity, of getting physically inactive workers to be active is up to $20.8bn (£17.0bn).