It is estimated that nearly 40% of all healthcare related expenses result from preventable conditions. These preventable conditions are caused by lifestyle choices such as tobacco, obesity, stress, lack of exercise and poor diet. Most of us make lifestyle choices everyday that eventually increase our demand for healthcare. It is not possible to totally eliminate all lifestyle related healthcare costs. However, improved lifestyle choices would cause a dramatic reduction in demand. This would then result in a similar reduction in the dollars spent on healthcare.

When the demand for health care decreases, it would result in lower health insurance costs, increased productivity, and reduced absenteeism. All organizational leaders need to seriously consider the benefits of health promotion and disease prevention programs. If this is done, return on investment will most likely be as high as 2:1 in the first year.