GWI Research Indicates Spending On Wellness May Increase Happiness and Longevity

Research released from the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) indicates that spending money on wellness is linked to positive outcomes in happiness and life expectancy

As the world faces a heightened mental and physical health crisis, the Global Wellness Institute (GWI) released the “Defining Wellness Policy” report at the Global Wellness Summit held this month in Tel Aviv, Israel. The report outlined the importance of wellness policy, and a quantitative analysis outlining the positive relationship between wellness spending, happiness, and health outcomes across countries.

According to the report, for every $844 annual increase in wellness spending per person, happiness levels increase seven percent. For every $769 spent per capita, life expectancy increases by 1.26 years. GWI also worked to define a “wellness policy” that encourages preventative behaviors, lifestyle changes, and environmental factors.

To conduct the quantitative analyses that led to their revelations in the correlation between wellness spending, happiness levels, and health outcomes, GWI researchers partnered with Dr. Shun Wang, a key author and statistician of the World Happiness Report. Their regression analysis used GWI’s data from wellness economy reports (measuring wellness spending in more than 200 markets), Gallup’s World Poll for global happiness measurements, and the World Bank’s data on national life expectancy and income levels.

The costs of poor health are high. Physical inactivity creates a $67.5B annual burden, including direct healthcare costs and loss of productivity. The report includes an evidence-based argument about why governments need wellness policy. In 2023, GWI will also release a series of Wellness Policy Toolkits to provide governments, non-profits, communities, and businesses a roadmap on how best to take action in the seven domains of wellness policy: physical activity, healthy eating, mental wellness, traditional/complementary medicine, wellness in the built environment, wellness at work, and wellness in tourism.

GWI’s Wellness Policy has a goal of making it easier for governments, the health and wellness industry, and communities to work towards wellness for all. By building frameworks, strategies, and language around how best to address gaps in the currency health sphere, GWI is informing future policy decision-making and consumer behaviors.