AN ACTIVE lifestyle saves £1billion in the health and social care system across the West Midlands a year, according to Sport England.
The health and care savings are part of the wider social value of community sport and physical activity, calculated to be £10.8billion per year in the region.
The annual social value is made up of £9.8billion in wellbeing value (which means how happy and healthy people are) for adults, children and young people, plus the further £1billion in savings to the health and social care system.
Nationally it is said active lives save £107.2billion per year and helps prevent 1.3million cases of depression, 600,000 of diabetes and 57,000 of dementia.
At a time when hospitals in the West Midlands and across the country are facing multiple issues during a deeply challenging winter – including overcrowding and a “quad-demic” of high flu cases, norovirus, Covid and RSV – the research demonstrates the power of community sport and physical activity to boost the health and wellbeing of local communities and reduce pressure on the NHS in the West Midlands.
The research suggests active lifestyles relieve NHS pressure through the prevention of illness, reduced mental health service usage, fewer GP visits and a reduced need for informal (unpaid) care.
Data revealed in the West Midlands, there are 1.4million inactive adults and 261-thousand inactive children.
Sport England chief executive, Tim Hollingsworth said: “Our research makes it clear that sport and physical activity must be a major part of the government’s plans to deliver national growth. In the West Midlands we’re seeing savings of £10.8billion a year through local people playing sport and leading active lives.
“We create growth through health: active lifestyles turbo-charge wellbeing, prevent illness, relieve NHS pressure and boost economic growth. If we can protect and invest in opportunities to play sport and be active, particularly for communities and people that face the most barriers to taking part, we will be healthier, wealthier, and happier. That’s why our 10-year strategy Uniting the Movement is laser-focused on tackling inequalities in activity levels across the country.”
