I find the following argument to be poorly reasoned, as it is based on the assumption that those who exercise regularly are healthier, and thus less likely to get sick, than those who don’t. If the argument were correct, then it would follow that health insurance costs would be lower for employees who exercise regularly, which is not true

In the cited example a business manager suggests that investing in a gym for town employees would lead the town’s health insurance costs to decline. Before I analyze this argument, I want to explore a few assumptions made by the writer. First, the assumption that employees who exercise regularly are healthier than those who don’t exercise is a questionable one. After all, people of any age can exercise to improve their health, regardless of their fitness level. Even someone of advanced age, such as 80, who exercises regularly is likely to have a more favorable immune system than someone who never exercises at all. Second, the assertion that those who exercise regularly are hospitalized less than half as often as those who don’t exercise is also questionable. This assertion assumes that all employees are covered by health insurance. If they are not, then they are simply avoiding the cost of being hospitalized, and the aforementioned savings will not occur

Finally, the notion that a well-equipped gym would reduce health insurance costs by approximately 50 percent is not logically sound; in fact, it would reduce them less than 50 percent. The company may save money, but its employees would lose out on the health benefits of regular exercise. If the company pays employees to go to the gym, as is often the case, then the company will incur the cost of employing 50 people instead of just one. In other words, the company’s profits will be diminished. If the employees that go to the gym do not lose weight or improve their health, the company’s profits will still be diminished, but the cost will be less. In addition, if the employees do lose weight and become healthier, then they may be able to return to work sooner and at a lower cost to the company. All of these factors must be considered when a business manager calculates the costs and benefits of investing in a gym membership for its employees

It is critical to consider the assumptions behind an argument before evaluating it. A flawed assumption can lead to faulty conclusions. In this case, the flawed assumption is the assumption that employees who exercise regularly are healthier than those who don’t. This assumption is likely to lead to flawed conclusions, as the cited argument assumes incorrectly that health insurance costs decline when employees exercise regularly. Without accounting for the possibility that not all employees are covered by health insurance, the argument becomes invalid

The argument assumes that employees who exercise regularly are healthier than those who don’t. This assumption is questionable, as anyone at any age can exercise to improve his or her health. A 80-year-old person, for example, who exercises regularly is likely to have a more favorable immune system than someone who never exercises at all. In addition, the cited argument assumes that all employees covered by the town’s health insurance are regular gym-goers. If some employees do not exercise regularly, then this argument is not valid. The savings that the town experiences may not occur

Furthermore, the assertion that employees who exercise regularly are hospitalized less than half as often as those who don’t exercise is also flawed. This assertion assumes that all employees covered by the town’s health insurance are regular gym-goers. If some employees do not exercise regularly, then this assumption is flawed. The savings that the town experiences may not occur. Lastly, the idea that a well-equipped gym would reduce health insurance costs by approximately 50 percent is not logical. The claim assumes that the company will save money by hiring just one person instead of 50. If the company pays employees to go to the gym, as is often the case, then the company will incur the cost of employing 50 people instead of just one. In other words, the company’s profits will be diminished. If the employees that go to the gym do not lose weight or improve their health, the company’s profits will still be diminished, but the cost will be less. In addition, if the employees do lose weight and become healthier, then they may be able to return to work sooner and at a lower cost to the company. All of these factors must be considered when a business manager calculates the costs and benefits of investing in a gym membership for its employees.