Generate information on the cost effectiveness of increasing regular physical activity among the older population to help support public policy, program development, and reimbursement efforts.

Conduct a survey to identify key public policy issues and strategies.
Convene an advisory panel to design or identify the research questions.
Fund additional research to address gaps in the knowledge base.
Develop a unified consensus statement.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Lead Organization)

AARP, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, National Institute on Aging, National Opinion Research Center, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and other organizations.

The anti-tobacco, flu shots, and injury prevention campaigns can be used as models for the project.

Funding
Leadership
Data

Generate cost-effectiveness data.
Secure funding for comprehensive research studies.
Disseminate outcomes widely.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Active Living Leadership and the Fifty-Plus Association have launched an on-line calculator that determines the financial costs of physical inactivity for businesses and communities. The calculator uses a formula based on the cost of medical care, worker’s compensation, and lost productivity data. This tool can be used to educate businesses, policy-makers and government leaders about the high costs of physical inactivity. www.activelivingleadership.org

The CDC Project MOVE focuses on measuring the value of physical activity. A model has been developed to compare the relative impacts of physical activity promotion strategies on the long-term health and economic consequences of physical inactivity. This model will be tailored to explore the economic impacts for promoting physical activity in persons 50 to 65 years.

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