How Much Physical Inactivity Costs You

Written by Kristin Wehner of Entrepreneur.com

What if you found a pill that would:

• increase both the span and quality of your life;

• cut in half your risk for heart disease, diabetes and colon cancer;

• alleviate mental anxiety and depression;

• increase muscle tone and heart function;

• decrease your blood pressure;

• increase your immunity;

• increase your mental clarity (which, of course, makes you smarter);

• increase your stamina;

• increase your body's ability to metabolize cell-damaging stress hormones; and

• increase overall productivity and decrease overall medical costs for you and your employees?

How much would you be willing to invest in such a pill?

What if the investment were time and not money?

The Cost of Physical Inactivity

The Physical Inactivity Cost Calculator uses the latest research available from the medical costs, workers' productivity and workers' compensation fields. According to The Physician and Sportsmedicine journal, $330 per year is the average cost in direct medical expenses per each inactive employee on your team. That's a tad less than a dollar a day per employee (and that includes you).

Big deal, your daily latte costs more, right?

Not so fast. The $330 doesn't include indirect medical costs (such as workers' compensation claims), the cost of myriad chronic diseases attributable to physical inactivity (heart disease, cancer, diabetes, etc.), or the cost of lost productivity (absenteeism -- missing work due to illness or injury, and "presenteeism" -- at work but less focused/productive due to illness or injury).

Who would have guessed that rising from your desk to go for a walk at lunch -- and encouraging your employees to do the same -- might be one of your most fiscally responsible business decisions? That's why well-implemented employee health and wellness programs not only save organizations money, but also improve employee morale and productivity. Here are five ways small businesses can cater to a healthier lifestyle:

1. Lead by example. Step up to the plate. When it comes to supporting employee health, the most successful organizations have senior level support (and role models).

2. Use assessments. You can't manage what you can't measure. Employee interest surveys and health risk assessments can help you determine what your employees want and need as well as measure their current health. For starters, try on-site health screenings that measure BMI, weight, blood chemistry and blood pressure.