Your greatest investment is health

The greatest investment you will ever make is the one you make on yourself and your own health. A recent global report on health and fitness has confirmed this.

Source: Fitness Industry Council of Canada

The report found that an investment of $2000 in the health and fitness of each Canadian would result in a return on investment. Sara Hodson, President of the Fitness Industry Council of Canada says it is imperative that Canada acts now to make the changes towards accessibility to fitness for Canadians for both their physical and mental health. 

Inactivity is costly, not only for how we feel but also for the healthcare system. The report found that $3.9 billion dollars were spent treating inactivity-related illnesses and injuries. 

Have you ever noticed how much more alert and generally healthier you feel even after just doing one workout or some form of physical activity? Getting sufficient exercise can be particularly useful at work, especially when you feel the afternoon lull. Not getting enough exercise is costly to your health and wellbeing—and also to the healthcare system. The report found that each working Canadian who does not get sufficient activity costs the healthcare system $2068. 

While inactivity costs the healthcare system, the Canadian Fitness industry directly supports 83.2 thousand jobs and indirectly supports 20.8 thousand jobs. Many Canadians rely on the fitness industry for their livelihood and this number could only increase with proper investment.

With everything going on in the world and in our personal lives, it can feel like a daunting task to get enough exercise. So how do we get Canadians more active? The report says that making gyms and other exercise facilities more accessible to all Canadians is one way. It says that quantity and quality of exercise are boosted in these kinds of facilities. This makes sense when you think about it—having a community of people who enjoy doing the same physical activity as you do can make exercise much more fun and rewarding. 

Newfoundland’s Provincial Government has even implemented a $2000 Physical Activity Tax Credit for its residents to help make exercise more accessible. Gym fees, sports equipment, travel expenses etc. all add up quickly and are a barrier to Canadians getting the physical activity they need to feel healthy. 

Fitness Industry Council of Canada encourages provincial and federal governments to follow in Newfoundland’s footsteps and invest in the health and well-being of Canadians. Hodson wants to see Canada as a global leader in health and fitness. 

Looking to read more about fitness? Check out these Partner-Resisted Exercises.