REDONDO BEACH, CA — Adults living in Southern California’s Beach Cities save an estimated $182.4 million on healthcare compared to the rest of the country due to low rates of obesity, diabetes and smoking.

According to a Gallup research study published on Thursday, residents of Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach spend about $95.3 million on healthcare each year for issues relating to obesity, overweight, diabetes, and smoking. On average, Americans spend an estimated $277.7 million for the same issues.

The Gallup Study’s data is based on a mail survey distributed to residents in late 2023 that was funded by the Beach Cities Health District.

“I think that people are maybe more self aware about their health, and not just the physical side. I think the key is really that willingness and awareness and I think people have that here in the Beach Cities,” Beach Cities Health District CEO Tom Bakalay told Patch. “I think also coming out of the pandemic I see sort of a renewed sense of urgency and interest.”

According to the study results, obesity in the Beach Cities is estimated at 13.3 percent compared with 38.4 percent nationally. Weight that is classified as above-normal, obese and overweigh combined, is 45.5 percent in the Beach Cities and 71.3 nationally.

In relation, the diabetes rate of 4.9 percent in the Beach Cities is much loser than the 13.6 percent across the U.S.

The smoking rate in the Beach Cities is also low with a rate of 3.4 percent, which is less than half of the nation’s 10.9 percent.

The Gallup study associated the low rates of obesity, diabetes and smoking with less unplanned absenteeism from work because of poor health.

Gallup estimated that productivity savings in the Beach Cities were $13.2 million because of the low obesity rate. In relation, Beach Cities residents save about $25.6 million annually due to low reported rates of diabetes.

Beach Cities residents are estimated to save $31.9 million in productivity for having a low rate of smoking, the study found.

Those living in the Beach Cities have ample access to events and programs that enhance various aspects of wellbeing for local residents. The Gallup study commended BCHD for its efforts in keeping the community healthy in varous aspects of wellbeing.

“I think a lot of times people focus on physical when they’re talking about well being, but what’s happening socially, financially, within your community, within your career can also impact your health. So we think the well being index is really a good measure,” Bakaly said.

The BCHD also sponsors the involvement of the Blue Zones Project, which specializes in transforming the local culture of wellbeing in different aspects of life including adding bike paths and recruiting local businesses and schools to participate in local initiatives.

More information about the study is available on Gallup’s website.