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Our country is polarized on the issue of health care. While our nation’s leaders debate on the most effective way to deliver health care, we can all agree that lowering health care costs is beneficial.

Increasingly, insurance companies are adjusting their rates based on the amount a person exercises. Recently, the University of Michigan and Stanford University conducted a study to analyze the extent to which participants exercised to reduce their insurance premium (article by University of Michigan Health System is licensed under CC by 3.0). Interestingly, faced with paying up to 20% more for health insurance or exercising more, 97%of the participants chose to exercise more.

So, why are insurance companies lowering premiums for those who are physically active?

Physical activity protects individuals against:

• Chronic disease
• Improves physical and mental health,
• Increases cognitive function
• Leads to a better quality of life.

On the other hand, a lack of physical activity leads to higher healthcare costs.

As you will be graduating from the University of Georgia in the near future, and given the changing landscape of insurance premiums and health, we believe it is critical for you to understand the importance of physical activity, how to eat properly, how to maintain a life of healthy living, and how to lower healthcare costs for you and society.
Specifically, the Basic Physical Education Courses (PEDB courses) at UGA serve to develop/advance your understanding of the importance of physical activity as it relates to a healthy lifestyle and provide you with the knowledge, skills and dispositions to help you obtain or maintain a healthy lifestyle.