13.14 The Economic Costs of Being Active: What Are You Investing In?

While it does cost money to participate in certain events and activities, being physically active doesn’t necessarily require a big financial investment. Gym memberships might come with monthly, term, or annual fees or could be based on usage. Community centers or community education programs may also offer inexpensive options. Group personal training is typically much less expensive than individual personal training and the cost of purchasing your own equipment—like a bike, weights, or suspension system—varies widely. To avoid spending money on a gym membership, you might try activities that require no equipment or that can be done outdoor. If you aren’t sure you’ll like a certain type of activity, look for promotions or trial memberships, drop-in classes, or try a free YouTube workout before investing.

If you are able and willing to spend money on equipment, memberships, activity fees, or other related costs, know that this money is not being wasted. Though difficult to calculate the economic return on investment in physical activity on an individual level, one large study showed that individuals with only one cardiovascular disease risk factor saw approximately $500 per year in cost savings when they met the physical activity recommendations of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous-intensity physical activity. This savings was five times more for individuals who already had cardiovascular disease, showing it is never too late to get started (Valero‐Elizondo et al., 2016).