By Diplomacy Journal Kayla Lee
Everyone now knows that we should exercise for our health. In fact, research results have been published that scientifically prove that exercise prevents diseases and even reduces medical expenses.
The Korea Sports Promotion Foundation (KSPO) National Fitness Award is the main character. It has once again proven that it is not a simple physical strength measurement service but a core public policy for national health and reduction of medical expenses.
Regarding this, KSPO Chairman Ha Hyung-joo emphasized, “National Fitness Award is a health service in everyday life that helps all citizens live healthily, and KSPO will responsibly support it until the end.”
Exercise effects verified by public data
A research result was published that the National Fitness Award operated by KSPO is effective in promoting national health as well as reducing medical expenses. The project is KSPO’s representative sports welfare project that systematically manages the physical strength of citizens through scientific physical strength measurement and customized exercise prescription.
This study combined the data of National Fitness Award participants with the National Health Insurance Corporation’s national health information data to deeply analyze the relationship between chronic diseases and medical expenses according to the national fitness certification level. This is significant in that it is the first attempt to verify the social and economic effects of exercise based on public data, going beyond the common sense that “people with good fitness are healthy.”
Chairman Ha added, “As we have confirmed scientific evidence through data analysis that physical fitness can directly lead to savings in health insurance finances, we will continue to develop the National Fitness Award into a prevention-centered health management platform in the lives of the people.”
This study was conducted using 680,696 valid data (496,415 for adults and 184,281 for seniors) from 2013 to 2022 in accordance with personal information guidelines.
Low physical fitness more than doubles the risk of chronic diseases, and there is also a big difference in medical expenses.
The results of the study were clear. The higher the physical fitness certification level, the lower the risk of developing chronic diseases, and the lower the annual medical expenses.
This suggests that low physical fitness levels are more likely to be exposed to various chronic diseases, and it is predicted that high physical fitness levels are more effective in preventing chronic diseases.
Chairman Ha emphasized, “The physical fitness certification level is not only a measure that reflects the level of health, but also a useful standard that can predict the possibility of developing diseases in the future,” and “If many citizens measure their physical fitness levels through physical fitness certification centers and practice customized exercise prescription programs, they will be able to prevent diseases, maintain health, and reduce the burden of medical expenses.”
Also holding a campaign to support cancer survivors
Since its full-scale introduction in 2012, the National Fitness Award has been participated by over 1.7 million people annually through 76 National Physical Fitness Certification Centers nationwide, contributing to the promotion of national health as well as the realization of sports welfare.
This study is expected to be an important basic data for establishing customized physical fitness policies for each life cycle and establishing strategies for improving health insurance finance efficiency, as it is a case where the National Fitness Award goes beyond a simple measurement program and provides scientific evidence for realizing a prevention-centered health management system in the future.
Meanwhile, in the first week of June, the National Fitness Award Physical Fitness Certification Center and the Regional Cancer Survivor Integrated Support Center collaborated to promote a campaign for the recovery of physical fitness for cancer survivors. Through this campaign, which was held at 15 National Fitness Award Certification Centers nationwide, approximately 300 cancer survivors received support for forming exercise habits in their daily lives through physical fitness measurements and customized exercise counseling.
Chairman Ha, who participated in the campaign held at the Songpa Physical Fitness Certification Center on this day, said, “I hope that survivors who have overcome cancer will return to their daily lives and continue to live healthy lives,” and encouraged the participants by saying, “We will continue to provide various sports welfare support in the future.”
