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Review
. 2020 Apr 22;14(5):511-523.
doi: 10.1177/1559827620912192. eCollection 2020 Sep-Oct.

Exercise Is Medicine

Walter R Thompson  1 , Robert Sallis  2 , Elizabeth Joy  3 , Carrie A Jaworski  4 , Robyn M Stuhr  5 , Jennifer L Trilk  6
Affiliations
Review

Exercise Is Medicine

Walter R Thompson et al. Am J Lifestyle Med. .

Abstract

There is overwhelming evidence in the scientific and medical literature that physical inactivity is a major public health problem with a wide array of harmful effects. Over 50% of health status can be attributed to unhealthy behaviors with smoking, diet, and physical inactivity as the main contributors. Exercise has been used in both the treatment and prevention of a variety of chronic conditions such as heart disease, pulmonary disease, diabetes, and obesity. While the negative effects of physical inactivity are widely known, there is a gap between what physicians tell their patients and exercise compliance. Exercise is Medicine was established in 2007 by the American College of Sports Medicine to inform and educate physicians and other health care providers about exercise as well as bridge the widening gap between health care and health fitness. Physicians have many competing demands at the point of care, which often translates into limited time spent counseling patients. The consistent message from all health care providers to their patients should be to start or to continue a regular exercise program. Exercise is Medicine is a solution that enables physicians to support their patients in implementing exercise as part of their disease prevention and treatment strategies.

Keywords: behaviors; exercise; inactivity; referral; vitals.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests: The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Kaiser Permanente exercise vital sign (EVS).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Intermountain Healthcare physical activity vital sign.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Making time to counsel on physical activity.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Kaiser Permanente Rx pad.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Health care providers referral mechanism.
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Exercise is Medicine Greenville clinical workflow process.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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