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A recent survey conducted of the public by ACSM found that nearly two-thirds of patients (65%) would be more interested in exercising to stayhealthy if advised by their doctor and given additional resources. Four out of10 physicians (41%) talk to their patients about the importance of exercise,but don't always offer suggestions on the best ways to be physically active.Patients (25%) look to their doctor first for advice on exercise and physicalactivity. They turn next to fitness and health Web sites (24%).
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The goal of the Exercise is Medicine(TM) program is to encouragephysicians to record physical activity as a vital sign during patient visits.Able patients will be advised to participate in at least 30 minutes ofphysical activity and 10 minutes of stretching and light muscle training fivedays a week.
A new Web site-www.exerciseismedicine.org-contains educational materialsand toolkits for physicians to use in their practices. The site also includesinformation for patients, the media, and policymakers, as well as a listing ofinitial supporting organizations. Educational models will be developed for usein medical schools so students can learn the importance of prescribingexercise to patients early in their careers.
Physical inactivity is a fast-growing public health problem in thiscountry and contributes to a variety of chronic diseases and healthcomplications, including obesity, coronary artery disease, diabetes, highblood pressure, cancer, depression and anxiety, arthritis and osteoporosis. Inaddition to improving a patient's overall health, increasing physical activityhas proven effective in the treatment and prevention of chronic disease.
"We already advise against smoking; recommending exercise should be nodifferent," said Robert E. Sallis, M.D., ACSM president. "Physicians cansupport the program by prescribing exercise and offering patients basiceducational materials. Exercise can have tremendous health benefits forpatients."
"More than half of Americans don't get nearly enough exercise and would beastounded to see how much difference a brisk 30-minute walk a few times a weekmakes in their overall health," said Ronald M. Davis, M.D., AMA president. "Weencourage physicians to talk to their patients about the importance ofexercise and to work with them to establish programs they can start today andcontinue throughout their lives."
About the American College of Sports Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine is the largest sports medicine andexercise science organization in the world. More than 20,000 international,national, and regional members are dedicated to advancing and integratingscientific research to provide educational and practical applications ofexercise science and sports medicine.
About the American Medical Association
The American Medical Association (AMA) helps doctors help patients byuniting physicians nationwide to work on the most important professional,public health and advocacy issues in medicine. Working together, the AMA'squarter of a million physician and medical student members are playing anactive role in shaping the future of medicine. For more information on theAMA, please visit www.ama-assn.org.
About the survey results:
ACSM's Exercise is Medicine(TM) survey was conducted by Kelton Researchbetween October 29th and November 1st, 2007 using an email invitation and anonline survey. The individuals sampled for the survey were randomly selectedfrom those individuals who provide
