Investing in Exercise and The Economics of Inactivity
B.U.D.S | Newsletter 15 | Exercise and Compound Interest
Newsletter Summary
Today, we examine the economic cost of physical inactivity, at a global scale. I provide a quick breakdown of a study published in the Lancet Global Health from 2023. I share my thoughts on investing and exercise, closing with a relevant quote to help us rethink our relationship to “working out.”
The Study
Key Highlights For You To Digest:
In the following decade, from 2020 to 2030, we can anticipate:
~500 million new cases of preventable NCDs, due to physical inactivity.
~ $520 billion in healthcare costs, due to physical inactivity.
Physical inactivity is the number one, modifiable risk factor to prevent NCDs.
Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are any disease that cannot be transmitted from one person to another. Examples: heart disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression, cancer. Anything that is not an infectious disease i.e. COVID, strep throat, syphilis, you get the picture.
~74% of new cases of NCDs would occur in low-income and middle-countries. However, high-income countries will bear most of the of the economic costs.
234.6 million (47%) of these new cases would be hypertension and 215.7 million (43%) would be due to depression and anxiety.
My Thoughts
The study above paints a pretty bleak picture. Although the projected statistics are most likely an underestimation of the economic damage physical inactivity will reek on our future healthcare system, I remain optimistic. Simply because of the fact that this is a massive, collective action problem. We just have to convince more people to begin investing in their health, through exercise and physical training.
Every time I clock in at the pharmacy, I make it a priority to have as many conversations as I can with my patients on the importance of exercise.
Below are two reframes I’ve used to help my patients transform their relationship with exercise and take on the challenge of improving their health, reduce their medication use, and invest more time and effort into building routines and habits centered around physical training.
Leveraging The Power of Compound Interest
Financial freedom comes from a combination of disciplined investing and compound interest. The same formula can be applied to health, performance and longevity.
Most people fail to recognize this, both in finance and health. Instead of making small, steady contributions, they invest their money or effort haphazardly — gambling a big chunk of change on a single stock or hitting the gym for a 3 hour weight-lifting session the day after they’ve been diagnosed with prediabetes.
Discipline and consistent effort in the gym, compounded over the long haul, will produce results that will continuously pay you healthy dividends in the form of robust health. The earlier you start and the more consistent you are, the greater your ROI.
Actionable Tips:
View movement as a daily habit — small deposits that compound over time. Do your best to never skip a session. Every rep and every step taken is akin to depositing money into your high-yield savings account.
Make exercise about longevity instead of aesthetics — with patience and persistence, not only will you feel good, you’ll look good too.
Working Out vs. Training
I hate the word workout. The word workout does not exist in the Russian language. We talk about a training session, or we talk about a lesson. We never talk about a workout. Just think of the word working out — what do you envision? Let’s see how much I can punish myself and drain myself. So the goal is not to get stronger. The goal is just to get worn out. And there are simpler ways of doing that. Run up the mountain, okay? So, no. The idea here is practice. Strength is a skill, and as such, it must be practiced. And if you approach it in this manner, not only are you gonna get stronger so much faster, but you’re gonna truly enjoying the training process.
I appreciate Pavel’s reframe, shifting our language from “working out” to “training.” Some may mistakenly adopt the mindset that training is synonymous with ease. If you’re serious about your health, you’ll have to pay the price for a healthy mind and body. To quote the Japanese author Karuki Murakami, pain is inevitable, suffering is optional. Physical training, when done right, incorporates elements of intensity and progressive overload, actively stressing the body to push past your limits, forcing physical adaptation which will then improve endurance and build strength.
Intensity falls on a spectrum, and it’s important to bring intention and patience into the equation. The goal is to become physically fit, over the long run. Approaching exercise through the lens of humility as practice, skill development and physical training, can allow us to make exercise a more sustainable and consistent habit.
Remember, it’s better to enjoy the process rather than chase the results.
Bottom Line
Optimal physical and mental health aren’t achieved overnight, it’s something you must build and develop through small, intentional choices repeated time and time again. Just like with investing for financial freedom, the earlier you begin the practice of physical training, the greater the rewards.
Be patient. Be consistent. And always ask yourself — how are you investing in yourself and your health today?
Thanks for reading.
SG.
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Build. Understand. Discipline. Stillness. “B.U.D.S” is written by me, Dr. Shawn Gill - I’m a pharmacist and Father of two boys. During the day, I work as a deprescribing pharmacist, helping patients get off drugs, safely and effectively. At night, I write this newsletter. B.U.D.S is a community that's focused on inspiring individuals to take account of their health and wellness, as well as reverse mental health and chronic disease. If you’d like to support this mission, please subscribe below. Much love. SG