According to studies from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health, physical inactivity results in billions in health care costs in the United States.

A bill currently in the U.S. House of Representatives, cosponsored by state Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, four other representatives from both sides of the aisle, aims to help remove financial barriers to staying active.

The bill — titled the Personal Health Investment Today, or PHIT, Act — would allow up to $1,000 per year from a pretax health saving or flexible spending account to be used for the purpose of engaging in sports and fitness activities. For those who file taxes jointly or as a head of household, the limit would rise to $2,000 per year.

Allowable uses of the money would include a wide range of activities and purchases. Youth sports league fees, gym memberships, fees for fitness classes, fitness videos and books, and purchase of equipment used solely to engage in staying physically active, from exercise machines to cleats, would all be allowable expenses should the bill pass.

Getting Americans into a routine of remaining physically active from a young age, and encouraging them to remain so throughout their lives, is a commendable and fiscally intelligent step to take. It’s a goal that not only can help our population live longer, better quality lives; but can save us, as nation untold amounts of money over the long term in added health expenses through the reduced risk of illnesses related to sedentary lifestyles.

—JP