Investing in a healthy lifestyle strategy: is it worth it?

Tarik Benmarhnia (), Pierre-Alexandre Dionne (), Éric Tchouaket (), Alvine K. Fansi () and Astrid Brousselle ()
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Tarik Benmarhnia: McGill University
Pierre-Alexandre Dionne: Université de Sherbrooke
Éric Tchouaket: Universté du Québec en Outaouais
Alvine K. Fansi: Institut national d’excellence en santé et en services sociaux (INESSS)
Astrid Brousselle: Université de Sherbrooke

International Journal of Public Health, 2017, vol. 62, issue 1, No 2, 3-13

Abstract: Abstract Objectives In Quebec, various actors fund activities aimed at increasing physical activity, improving eating habits and reducing smoking. The objective was to evaluate how effective does the healthy lifestyle habits promotion (HLHP) strategy need to be to make to offset its costs. Methods First, we built the logic model of the HLHP strategy. We then assessed the strategy’s total cost as well as the direct health care expenditures associated with lifestyle-related risk factors (smoking, physical inactivity, insufficient intake of fruits and vegetables, obesity and overweight). Finally, we estimated the break-even point beyond which the economic benefits of the HLHP strategy would outweigh its costs. Results The HLHP strategy cost for 2010–2011 was estimated at $110 million. Direct healthcare expenditures associated with lifestyle-related risk factors were estimated at $4.161 billion. We estimated that 47 % of these expenditures were attributable to these risk factors. Conclusions We concluded that the HLHP strategy cost corresponded to 5.6 % of the annual healthcare expenditures attributable to these risk factors. This study compared the economic value of HLHP activities against healthcare expenditures associated with targeted risk factors.

Keywords: Economic evaluation; Public health; Health policy; Burden of disease; Attributable fraction; Return on investment; Risk factors; Economic benefits; Healthy lifestyle habits promotion (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
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DOI: 10.1007/s00038-016-0884-y

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