A REGRESSION ANALYSIS ON THE IMPACT OF SMOKING LEVEL OF EXERCISE AND WEIGHT ON MEDICAL COST IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT Nigerin,a large proportion of the population is confronted with various health challenges,any of which could be prevented through timely medical intervention and the adoption of althy lifestyle practices.Unfortunately,limited awareness,late diagnosis, and unhealthy habits ich as smoking,physical inactivity,and poor dietary choices continue to contribute gnificantly to the country's growing burden of disease. This study was designed to investigate te extent to which smoking, lack of regular exercise, and being overweight influence medical osta arnong Nigerians. o achieve this objective,data were collected from two main sources: primary data obtained wrough structured questionnaires administered to respondents, and secondary data gatheted from dicial health builetins published by the Federal Ministry of Health.The study employed egression analysis as the primary statistical tool to examine the relationship between smoking.hysical inactivity, and excess body weight (treated as independent variables) and the cost of nedical care (treated as the dependent variable). The analysis revealed a clear pattem indieating that individuals who engage in unhealthy lifestyle behaviors tend to incur higher medical costs over time.Specifically,smoking was associated with a greater likelihood of developing chronic illnesses,physical inactivity was linked to oesity and cardiovascular diseases, and being overweight was correlated with Increased healthcare expenses. These combined effects contribute to the rising trend in medical coss across the country. In light of these findings, the study strongly recommends that individuals adopt healthier habits,Including engaging in regular physical exercise, completely avoiding tobacco use,and maintaining a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients.Additionally,public health campaigns and preventive health programs should be intensified to raise awareness about the financial and health consequences of poor lifestyle choices. By prioritizing preventive measures,it is possible to reduca both the prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases and the escalating medical costs amociated with their treatment in Nigeria.