Daily physical activity can have a considerable economic impact on individuals, governments and businesses, according to new findings

It’s no secret that there are numerous benefits to physical movement, but new research has put an economic value on regular exercise — to the tune of $2,281 annually.

That is, of course, if an individual has an active day (considered as 10,000 steps).

The new findings originate from studies conducted by the U.K.’s University of Birmingham, University of Cádiz in Spain and Germany’s Blockchain Research Lab, facilitated by Sweat Economy, a move-to-earn platform rewarding users for physical activity.

The Economic Value of Exercise

Departing from conventional research demonstrating the positives of daily movement, the study emphasizes the economic significance of physical activity and its impact on individuals, governments and employers.

When it comes to individuals, 10,000 steps a day is worth up to $6.25 and as low as $0.52, with a median value of $3.96 per person, according to the University of Birmingham’s Dr. Mark Elliott and Dr. Danae Arroyos-Calvera.

“Our comprehensive review of the academic literature provides a robust foundation for quantifying the economic benefits of physical activity,” Dr. Elliott said. “These values can help guide decisions around public health initiatives, workplace wellness programs and other strategies to get people moving more.”

Public Health Impact

Dr. Borja del Pozo Cruz from the University of Cádiz and Professor Sebastien Chastin from the Caledonian University of Glasgow found that an active day is worth $1.96 per day to governments.  According to Cruz, the results suggest the need for tailored public health strategies to promote active lifestyles.

“Policymakers and businesses should take note of this public sentiment and prioritize initiatives that can deliver these returns,” Cruz said.

Earlier this summer, Canada’s government announced an investment in programming that promotes physical activity and healthy living. As one of the phases of the project, the government is awarding over $9 million to seven organizations, including those centered on creating green spaces to encourage movement. Another project aims to support healthcare providers in prescribing physical activity in natural settings to 500 patients at risk of developing diabetes.

A Boost for Productivity and Profits

Blockchain Research Lab’s Dr. Lennart Ante found that companies can benefit from an economic value of $4.38 per employee per active day and see a 2.7% productivity hike — findings that bode well for corporate wellness platforms.  

Oleg Fomenko, Sweat Economy’s co-founder and research program organizer, noted that it is encouraging to see the financial worth of physical activity highlighted in the broader health discussion.

“A wide range of estimates from $0.52 to $6.25 suggests that more work is ahead of us, but the sheer scale of this research matches our ambition of turning the value of your physical activity into a trillion-dollar economy – The Movement Economy,” Fomenko said.

credit: Sweat Economy

Sweat Economy expanded into the U.S. last year as one of the premiere move-to-earn platforms where users can mint $SWEAT, a crypto asset, by participating in physical activities. The funds can be accrued and deposited into “Growth Jars” or to unlock rewards.

Such platforms that incentivize movement with financial rewards have been shown to drive motivation, according to recent research. Similarly, health-focused apps have been found to drive lifestyle improvements.

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