NEW YORK, Oct 11 (Reuters Health) - Everyone knows exercise helps fight off body fat and disease. But for those who are not swayed by health concerns, new research shows exercise saves money, too.

If the more than 88 million inactive Americans took up regular exercise, they would save more than $76 billion per year in medical costs, according to researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Michael Pratt and his colleagues attached this dollar figure to inactivity after analyzing survey data on Americans' healthcare expenses in 1987-1988.

The investigators report their findings in the October issue of The Physician and Sportsmedicine.

According to the survey, active Americans age 15 and older saved $330 over a year, in 1987 dollars. On average, inactive individuals shelled out $1,349 in medical costs for the year, compared with $1,019 for exercisers. The CDC researchers defined an active person as one who exercised moderately or intensely for at least 30 minutes, three times per week. Medical costs included doctor visits, hospitalization, and medicine.

Pratt's team found that the savings also extended to smokers. Active smokers spent $369 less than inactive smokers did on healthcare.

Heart disease, diabetes and obesity cost Americans close to $300 billion per year, the report indicates. These conditions are related to each other and, in part, are due to a lack of exercise. Although this study does not prove that inactivity directly led to greater medical costs, Pratt and colleagues write, the findings do suggest that taking up exercise can cut Americans' medical expenses.

(From Reutershealth)