Health to Wealth

Sometimes when watching a movie where there is a really fit person, doing a lot of amazing things, I placate myself by remembering that they have a group of people helping them get into that shape and learn those skills. Trainers, coaches, chefs, assistants... and they get paid to get into shape and learn random things for a movie.

Unfortunately, no one is paying me to be healthy.

But being healthy is in the best interest of myself, my family, and the community.

Cost of healthcare is immense.

The data are presented by type of service, sources of funding, and type of sponsor. U.S. health care spending grew 7.5 percent in 2023, reaching $4.9 trillion or $14,570 per person. As a share of the nation's Gross Domestic Product, health spending accounted for 17.6 percent. (18 Dec 2024)

But, the problem with most healthcare costs, is that they are a post-illness expense, not a preventative spend. I suspect that a lot of the costs would come down significantly, is more effort was put into preventing illnesses, rather than treating illness. And most likely the places where impact would be the highest, would be in the simple areas that are applicably generally to all, with nutrition and exercise. However, as we know, left to our own devices, we aren't very good at managing either of these, as illustrated by our ever-expanding obesity numbers.

Of course, since many of us have jobs to go to, family life to balance, and our own personal needs and wants to take care of - it makes it challenging to take care of ourselves, to pre-empt illness. And this means that we will have more physical and mental problems that cost more to take care of, as well as impact on our productivity, which is another enormous cost that isn't factored into the healthcare figures. And, since no one is paying us and we probably don't have the money to have personal trainers, coaches, chefs and assistants at our beck and call, we aren't going to be able to pay them to come to us.

What if it was subsidized, or better, free?

Such an incredibly large amount is spent on healthcare that is obviously not working, it might be worth trying something different with blended approach of professionals and technology. For instance, every family could have a trained professional visit the home to sit down and evaluate current situations, make plans for dietary changes and exercise if needed, and then fortnightly check-in with the family in-person and see how things are going and adjust accordingly. There could be several of these support people in each suburb, and the experiences can be shared with neighbours too.

The check-in is important to create accountability and also for finetuning, as everyone would be learning what works the best together, but it isn't regular enough. It is economically unfeasible to have people visit daily, or be live-in support like some of the celebrities would have when they are prepping for a role, but technology does have some answers now, with AI.

See, I don't hate all AI usecases!

There are already a lot of AI fitness apps out there, but there could be an AI assistant that is tailored for this particular usecase, so that it would work in combination with the personal trainer and coach to help the family build recipes, remind for workouts, watch the form of movements and suggest corrections, and generally be there when the trainer is not, working with the family, as a family unit. Designing workout plans and activities for the family to do together.

At least in my neighbourhood, I reckon this kind of service would be highly appreciated and effective, as well as probably support more outdoor activities to bring people together somewhat organically. I reckon it would provide enough support to get people interested and moving, perhaps into a gym more often, or into the outdoor exercise equipment areas that are being put in more places slowly.

The thing is, we are all human. And as such, just having the time and equipment, isn't enough for most of us to exercise regularly, or to eat well. We need guidance, structure, and continual support. However, I don't think the AI by itself is enough either, because they aren't going to make the human connection in the same way, at least for most of us, at this point in time.

If this program were to run for the next ten years from today, what do you think might happen? I do think that it would make an impact on people's lives, and probably improve their general health, lowering trips to the healthcare centres and days off. In Finland, having support people visit the elderly regularly has decreased the cost of healthcare as they spend significantly less time in hospitals, and I think that a pre-emptive approach would not only have impacts pretty soon, it would have impacts in decades from now also.

Would you use it?

For this, let's assume that the data isn't shared for advertising purposes or for any kind of governmental ulterior control motive, and it was just to support better health in the community - do you think it would help you? I think it would help my family at least, and I think in time it would bring us together in a different way, by helping us work together for a common goal of better family health. It is always on the agenda, but we aren't consistent enough.

Perhaps, rather than watching movies to be entertained because we want to avoid doing something useful, we can get into better shape, and feel better as individuals and a community. And put our tax dollars to work improving us, helping us, supporting us for an increased wellbeing, and quality of life. So much value is spent on so little gain for society.

That should change.

Taraz
[ Gen1: Hive ]