Colditz' earlier work examined the health care costs of obesity. That research prompted ACSM officials to ask him to do a similar study on exercise, he said. When he did the exercise project, he also updated his figures on obesity. The public health burden of inactivity and obesity is substantial,'' it said. Colditz, however, focuses on being more active as the best way to attack the problem.
Activity burns calories, so people who exercise more also can lose weight.
But people who only diet can't get the independent health benefits of exercise, he said. And the emphasize-activity approach may be the most effective, Wang said. CDC is encouraging programs to make communities more walking-friendly by such measures. It would like to see more sidewalks built, and it promotes having children walk to school instead of being driven. Actually, the cost of prevention may be higher than the cost of care.