III 

112TH CONGRESS 

1ST SESSION S. RES. 97 

Affirming the importance of exercise and physical activity as key components 

of a healthy lifestyle, including in combating obesity, reducing chronic 

disease, and lowering health care costs. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 9, 2011 

Mr. CASEY (for himself and Mr. BURR) submitted the following resolution; 

which was considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Affirming the importance of exercise and physical activity 

as key components of a healthy lifestyle, including in 

combating obesity, reducing chronic disease, and lowering 

health care costs. 

Whereas data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate that poor diet and physical inactivity 

cause over 400,000 deaths each year; 

Whereas data from the Department of Health and Human 

Services estimate that 68 percent of adults and 16.9 percent of children of the United States are obese or overweight; 

Whereas obesity is associated with more than 30 medical conditions, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension; 


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•SRES 97 ATS 

Whereas research has clearly demonstrated that increased 

physical activity can play a direct role in reducing the incidence of chronic diseases, including heart disease and 

diabetes; 

Whereas, given the most recent trends in obesity, 1 in 3 children born in the United States in 2000 is expected to develop diabetes over the course of his or her lifetime; 

Whereas research has estimated that moderate aerobic exercise lowers the adult risk for type 2 diabetes by 58 percent, heart disease by 45 percent, colon cancer by up to 

50 percent, and breast cancer by up to 30 percent; 

Whereas average per capita health spending increased by 40 

percent during calendar years 1997 through 2005, but 

the average per capita spending for the 15 costliest conditions, all associated with obesity, increased 55 percent 

during those calendar years; 

Whereas the potential savings in direct medical costs if all inactive American adults engaged in regular physical activity could be as high as $80,000,000,000; 

Whereas approximately half of the direct medical costs associated with diseases that stem from obesity and inactivity 

are paid for by the government and the taxpayers of the 

United States through federally funded programs, such 

as Medicaid and Medicare; 

Whereas regular exercise combined with reduced caloric intake has been shown to be most effective in reducing 

body mass; 

Whereas, even if an individual does not lose weight, exercise 

may provide health benefits to that individual, including 

psychological benefits such as lower rates of stress and 


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anxiety, lower rates of depression, higher self-esteem, and 

an improved body image; and 

Whereas new research shows that financial incentives can be 

used to develop or foster good exercise habits: Now, 

therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) affirms the importance of exercise and 

3 physical activity as key components of a healthy life4 style, including combating obesity, reducing chronic 

5 disease, and lowering health care costs; and 

6 (2) encourages the development of incentives, 

7 including responsible economic incentives, to pro8 mote exercise and a more physically active and 

9 healthy United States. 

Æ 


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