Trust for America&#x92;s Health recently released a report featuring case studies focusing on the relationship between health and economic development in six different states.</p><p>The report examines how health affects the ability of states, cities and towns to attract and retain employers, and how workplace and community wellness programs help improve productivity and reduce health expenses.</p><p>According to Jeff Levi, executive director of TFAH, &#x93;high rates of chronic diseases, like diabetes and heart disease, are among the biggest drivers of U.S. health care costs and they are harming our nation&#x92;s productivity. Workplace wellness and community prevention programs are a win-win way to make a real difference in improving our health and bottom line all at once.&#x94; </p><p>The report claims that more than half of all Americans currently live with one or more chronic disease, including heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer. High rates of these diseases are connected with increasing health care costs.</p><p>The case studies in the report feature accounts from business executives, elected officials and public health leaders in Minnesota, Texas, Tennessee, Indiana, California and Mississippi, where employers and communities are making the connection between improving health and the economy. One of the case studies in Texas found that from a financial point of view, obesity alone cost businesses an extra $9.5 billion in 2009, including health care, lost productivity and absenteeism.</p><p>A former Texas health commissioner said that if the incidence of obesity continues to rise, the state will have a work force that will not be as attractive as it could be to companies thinking of expanding or moving to Texas.</p><p>In the case study of Minnesota, Tom Mason, president of the Alliance for a Healthier Minnesota said, &#x93;we&#x92;ve heard from employers around the state that their health care costs are unsustainable and they want to do something about it.&#x94;</p><p>&#x93;If you&#x92;re going to contain health care costs,&#x94; Mason added, &#x93;it&#x92;s important to stop the rise of preventable chronic disease. The idea is to generate savings by reducing the number of people who have these conditions.&#x94;</p><p>Our own city has been undertaking a range of prevention efforts, including community programs like Livable Streets and construction of biking and walking trails as well as school-based initiatives to help make it easier for residents to make healthier choices.</p><p>We live in a community that has rightfully received many awards in the past few years. Wouldn&#x92;t it be wonderful if the next award we receive is for being one of the healthiest communities in the country?</p><p>Judy Schmoeger is owner and general manager of Anytime Fitness. She has lived in Lee&#x92;s Summit since 1976.