Good Health Saves California Beach Cities Millions Yearly

Imagine living in a place where good health not only benefits your well-being but also saves millions of dollars each year. In Southern California’s Beach Cities —Manhattan Beach, Redondo Beach, and Hermosa Beach—this is becoming  a reality. According to Gallup, residents here enjoy high well-being compared to the national average, leading to significantly lower healthcare costs and reduced workplace productivity losses.

Key Health Metrics and Healthcare Cost Savings

Residents of the Beach Cities have much lower rates of obesity, diabetes, and smoking compared to national averages. While the national obesity rate stands at 38.4%, that figure drops to 13.3% in the Beach Cities. Similarly, the diabetes rate is 4.9%, compared to 13.6% nationally, and the smoking rate is 3.4% versus 10.9% across the U.S. These improved health metrics have translated into substantial savings on healthcare costs. The Gallup data reveals that the Beach Cities save an estimated $182.4 million annually on healthcare costs. This is no small feat, considering that if the local health metrics rates mirrored the national averages, healthcare expenses would skyrocket to $277.7 million. These numbers highlight how a community committed to improved health can drive down costs for everyone.

Impact on Workplace Productivity

The benefits of these healthy lifestyles are not only limited to healthcare savings. The improved health metrics of Beach Cities residents also translate to lower rates of unplanned absenteeism at work due to poor health compared to adults across the country. For example, while obesity still costs employers in the Beach Cities $6.9 million annually in lost productivity, that number is much lower than the estimated $20.1 million if the national obesity rates are used. This means that the Beach Cities save $13.2 million in lost productivity costs.

The Beach Cities are also ahead of the curve on smoking and diabetes. Beach Cities adult workers who smoke incur $14.4 million in lost productivity, but if the Cities had the national smoking rate, employers would bear $46.3 million in lost productivity. While diabetes among Beach Cities residents still leads to a significant $14.5 million in lost productivity, that could shoot up to $40.1 million if local diabetes rates were as high as the national average.

The Secret Ingredient? Community Health Initiatives

What’s the secret to the Beach Cities’ success? Much of it can be attributed to the proactive efforts of the Beach Cities Health District (BCHD) which works to foster a culture of well-being through activities such as mental health training and yoga classes.

In addition, the BCHD partners with the Blue Zones Project, which aims to improve community health through environmental and lifestyle changes. Blue Zones Project does this through environmental changes such as adding bike paths and engaging local businesses, schools, and grocery stores in health-promoting activities so that the healthy choice is the easy, unavoidable choice.

As healthcare costs skyrocket nationwide, the Beach Cities provide a beacon of hope. Their dedication to health is not only enhancing lives but also saving millions of dollars, and their success shows what can be achieved when a community prioritizes well-being.

Curious about how your community could achieve similar results? Discover more about Blue Zones Project and read the full Gallup press release here.