Jon Stanton

Walking will save you money - pure and simple! I can hear the cacophony of "yeah right" already, but seriously, stop and think about it.

First, in a very practical sense, if you are walking (or biking) somewhere instead of driving, you are saving gas and wear and tear on your vehicle. Depending on your situation, this could add up to substantial savings in a year.

However, even more significant is the likely savings you will incur as a result of being a healthier person. My good friend Jodi Davis, who lost 162 pounds from walking and common sense eating, wrote an excellent blog on her website today (www.walkytalk.com) about obesity-related expenses in the United States. I had forwarded an article to her that I saw on MSN about a recent study that found the following:

• Medical spending for the average obese person in the U.S. is $1,429 more per year than for a non-obese person
• Overall obesity-related spending in the U.S. has more than doubled in the last 10 years and now totals more than $147 billion annually
• Obesity-related medical treatments now account for 9.1 percent of all medical spending in the U.S.
• The cost of treating diabetes in the U.S. is $190 billion annually. The single, biggest risk factor for diabetes is obesity.

When I think about these sobering statistics, a couple of things come to mind. First, nearly all of these statistics would be radically impacted if people would consistently walk at a brisk pace for just 30 minutes per day, and follow a common-sense eating plan. Second, think about how much better our economy would be if the $147 billion spent annually to treat obesity were spent on general economic activity, or if it were invested in our communities to build sidewalks, bike paths, exercise centers and more.

So, what are you waiting for! Get out there and walk, and save yourself and the nation's health care system some money! Remember - start slowly if you have not been exercising regularly. I started by walking to the end of my driveway and back. It takes time to build endurance, so don't do too much too fast. Also, be sure to check with your physician and make sure your body can handle walking or any other form of exercise. Then, step out the door and SAVE SOME BUCKS! :-)