Pettle faster, Stephen.

Hey, this is Stephen Dubner.

I'm at the gym.

Your current hard rate is 110 beats per minute.

Your target rate is 130 beats per minute.

We all know that exercise is good for us.

We also know that most people don't get nearly enough.

34% of US adults are physically inactive.

Other 20% are insufficiently active and, not surprisingly, almost 40% of US adults

are classified as obese.

To be reductive, many of us eat too much and exercise too little.

Now why don't we get more exercise?

Let's be honest, it is hard work.

Stephen, I told you to pedal faster.

The cost of physical inactivity is massive, not just in illness and death, but in dollars

too.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Emory University say the US spends

about $117 billion a year on healthcare due to inadequate physical activity.

Those are just the direct costs from treating cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and so

on.

It doesn't even include things like the loss of productivity.

There is a big deal coming up, Stephen.

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