Fitter workers 'would boost UK economy'
Fitter workers 'would boost UK economy'
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Wednesday, 29, Mar 2006 11:17
Improving the fitness of UK workers would save the economy hundreds of millions of pounds a year, a new report has suggested.
According to business advisory firm Deloitte's Health of the Nation report, less than half (48.4 per cent) of Britons currently meet the government's fitness target of 150 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.
The report draws a direct correlation between exercise and worker absence, suggesting that British workers' failure to do enough exercise meant that they are more prone to illness, taking millions of costly and unnecessary sick days every year.
Workers who did less than 150 minutes of exercise a week took an average of 3.5 sick days a year, with those doing more than 150 minutes missing just three days of work through illness.
As a result, Deloitte estimates that if the proportion of Britons meeting the government target were increased to 70 per cent, 2.78 million fewer sick days would be taken every year, saving the economy a total of £487 million.
Deloitte partner Adrian Balcombe stressed that it was in the interests of both government and businesses to encourage people to take more exercise.
"The benefits of a fitter population would be felt throughout the economy. There would be a reduced burden on the NHS and insurers would face fewer health-related claims," Mr Balcombe said.
"A population more motivated to exercise could boost revenues for health club and leisure centre operators, employers would see increased productivity through reduced absenteeism and people would enjoy a healthier lifestyle with reduced risk of illness."
He added that employers should consider offering employees fitness-related benefits, such as subsidised gym membership, suggesting that the initial outlay would be more than recouped by a fall in absenteeism.
"Employers need to incorporate exercise perks into their benefits package to make up for the amount the average person is prepared to spend on exercise per month. The reduced absence rates and improved health of the workforce is likely to fund this," Mr Balcome said.
The study found that many people at present appear reluctant to join a gym or health club, with just 17 per cent of the 10,000 adults surveyed currently a member of a club.
Much of this reluctance appears to be cost-related, with the average Briton spending just £7.46 a month on exercise.
Unsurprisingly, given the reluctance to spend money on keeping fit, walking is the main form of exercise for almost half (48.1 per cent) of those surveyed, with jogging second at 6.2 per cent.
The government has set a target that by 2020, 70 per cent of Britons will exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, five days a week.