Prescribing physical activity in the right “dosage” is an extremely effective prescription for the prevention, treatment and management of more than 40 of the most common chronic health conditions encountered in clinical practice.
At last it is becoming increasingly usual to see the prescribing exercise instead of medication to combat various conditions from the likes of type 2 diabetes to anxiety and depression. But there is still a very long way to go…
There is a growing move towards prescribing exercise to fight type 2 diabetes. And we are seeing increasing evidence of cases where this serious condition is being stalled, halted and even reversed as a result of effective exercise and nutrition programs.
And when it comes to depression and related issues, exercise has been responsible for improving the lives of huge numbers of sufferers. A growing move towards exercise prescription will unquestionably have an impact on existing conditions and the prevention of those issues returning.
Exercise as medicine is an initiative that encourages healthcare providers, regardless of their specialty, to take the pledge to assess and record physical activity as a vital sign during patient visits and to conclude each visit with an exercise “prescription” and/or referral to a certified health fitness professional for further counselling and support.
On a worldwide level, physical inactivity is nothing short of devastating
The figures speak for themselves. Globally it is estimated that physical inactivity causes:
· 6% of the global burden of disease from coronary heart disease
· 7% of Type II Diabetes
· 10% of breast and colon cancer cases
Inactivity also causes 9% of premature mortality, or more than 5.3 million of the 57 million deaths that occurred worldwide in 2008.
However the opposite patterns and statistics are true when exercise is involved
Physical activity is shown to:
· Reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer by approximately 50%
· Reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease
· Lowers the risk of all-cause, cardiovascular, and cancer-specific mortality in adults with higher levels of muscle strength
· Leads to higher academic performance in children and adults
Going in the right direction
Although there is much more work to be done, more and more doctors are prescribing exercise instead of drugs as a prescription to their patients. It is great to see that many medical doctors are realising the value of exercise in treating chronic illnesses and preventing them from occurring.
Medical doctors also see the value in working with health fitness professionals because they realise that, more often than not, they don’t have complete training in this area.
They realise that health fitness professionals not only have the training and education to really prescribe exercise for their patients, but they also have the education in nutrition.
Metabolic Precision Online Coaching is a research-proven, science-based program that incorporates the complete picture of exercise and nutrition to enhance how you look, feel, and function. I have worked with medical doctors and their patients with this program and have had outstanding results.
If you want to work with a true professional and genuine expert, click below for more information.
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