Talk Cancer

Question:

I have heard arguments advanced here how lack of exercise is expensive. But these arguments miss an important piece of the puzzle. Like everyone else, non-exercisers pay social security taxes. But non-exercisers have lower life expectancy and die early. Which is great for the rest of us as they won’t collect the social security payments after retirement.

A really good point, but undercut by the reality: While unfit people do die younger, the difference is actually not that much, ranging from 3 to 8 years.  Regardless, the *main* difference between fit and unfit people is how healthy they are in their old age.  Unfit people (at least in the US) live almost as long as fit people, but live far longer in infirmity. —