3 Healthy Habits That Aren't Worth the Cost

Our bodies are costing us more than ever, but are those expenses justified?

March 13, 2012 RSS Feed Print

Let's face it: Like some kind of newfangled technology, our bodies are costing us more than ever. From gym visits to healthcare to diets, we're paying more to stay fit and healthy for longer. And when we fail, we also pay: Healthcare costs have skyrocketed. Here are three healthy habits that come with a big price tag:

Going to the gym. Depending on where you live (and your penchant for amenities), gym memberships can cost upwards of $95 per month. Initiation fees, incremental price hikes, and extra charges to take that spinning class may jack up your annual outlay to well over $1,200. And a session with a personal trainer typically costs around $40 to $50 a pop, although you might find a buy-in-bulk deal.

Workout gear—which you'll need whether you do your sweating at a gym, outdoors, or in your own home—can be pretty steep, too. A snazzy women's workout tank from Lululemon Athletica costs more than $50, while the apparel company's yoga-style pants will run you nearly $100 per pair. But deals in the single digits can be found at chain discount stores like Wal-Mart and Target, where you can get Mossimo yoga pants for $14.99.

Following diet advice. Many of us are thankful for those glossy guides to getting swimsuit-ready, but tally up a few magazine subscriptions ranging from $12 to $25 per year, and you're shelling out some serious cash. There's never a shortage of reality TV stars or New Age gurus peddling their weight-loss plans, and hardcover copies of the latest diet book can usually ring up to around $25. If it's a more comprehensive plan for slimming down that gets you going, an annual membership at the likes of Weight Watchers will cost about $235 for the standard plan.

Buying health foods. While Americans spend far less of their disposable income on food than they did 50 years ago, they shell out increasing amounts on health-related foods and restaurant meals. In other words, they're paying for health and convenience. Agriculture Department statistics show than in 1930, families spent around 21 percent of their disposable income on food consumed at home and 3 percent on food consumed away from home. Compare that with the average family today, which spends just 5.7 percent of its disposable income on food consumed at home but 4.1 percent on food away from home.

The organic food industry is also booming—and sucking more money from consumer wallets in the process. Sticking with nonspecialty stores is also easier on the wallet; a survey from Washington Consumers' Checkbook shows that families that spend an average of $150 a week on groceries at a mainstream store such as Safeway would spend $3,510 more by shopping at Whole Foods. (They could also save $1,326 by shopping at a discount store such as Bottom Dollar Food, but they might not find any organic arugula there.)

Meanwhile, Americans are also willing to shell out cash for convenience, too. Processed foods, which include everything from cereal to baked goods, have expanded to make up about three-quarters of global food sales and now exceed $3.2 trillion a year, according to the Agriculture Department. Almost half of all money going to food in the United States is spent at restaurants, the National Restaurant Association reports. (In 1955, only $1 went to restaurants for every $4 spent on food.)

Put it all together—the growing costs of our exercise routines, dieting, and health food—and you can see why our bodies have become more expensive to maintain. The exercise industry, which was practically nonexistent 50 years ago, now rakes in billions of dollars a year. According to the National Sporting Goods Association, sales of sports-related footwear, clothing, and equipment exceed $53 billion a year. Americans buy $3 billion worth of treadmills alone annually.

Americans are also spending record amounts on their healthcare. According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, total annual spending is now $2.2 trillion, or around $7,421 per person. Ten years ago, it was half that, and 20 years ago, total spending was a quarter of what it is today. Whether or not we're healthier as a result is the subject of much debate.

Twitter: @alphaconsumer

Tags:: women's health,; health,; men's health

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I teach about nutrition and exercise and how to save money on both. This article seems to do what it can to not address the ways to eat well, exercise, and stay more healthy. Buy a good pair of shoes and walk. No need to spend money on a gym if you don't have that money. Buy more fresh fruits and vegetables. Not all of us can by organic. Almost all of us need more fruits and vegetables. Eating better can help people save money in health care costs. Exercising, the same thing. More milestone and chronic diseases can be avoided or mitigated by making just a few changes at a time. Not impressed by this article throwing around a bunch of numbers and saying very little.

Getupandmove of AZ 2:29PM March 30, 2012

This article didn't even attempt to prove the idea put forth in the headline. If you want to declare that the three, noted healthy habits aren't worth the cost, you have to at least try to draw some connection from the expense of the habits to data that shows people who engage in those habits aren't any healthier than those who do not engage in them. That was not done.
What's more, "going to the gym" means exercising regularly, and "following diet advice" and "buying health foods" means eating better. Who among us is seriously going to argue that exercising regularly and eating better are not important components to being healthier? We can always look for lower-cost ways to engage in those habits, but to dismiss the habits themselves out of hand on the basis of monthly costs that pale in comparison to what people typically spend engaging in UNhealthy or useless habits is ridiculous.

Robert of FL 3:45PM March 18, 2012

It seems like the writers of this article are trying to go out of their way to write something that goes against what most articles of this nature write about: Unhealthy habits are costing you money.
Clearly there are better alternatives (as mentioned) to $100/month gym fees and $100 yoga pants, but to write that you are wasting money because you are spending money on these things is silly.
Healthcare costs are sky high for numerous reasons, but one of these reasons is that Americans aren't spending the money or time in the gym or spending the money to cook meals at home.

Pfff of SC 6:51PM March 15, 2012