There are three major factors that really influence our health and longevity: genetics, the environment and behaviour. Because we have no control over our genetics, it is important that we focus on the environmental and behavioural factors we can control to improve our health. Whereas great strides have been made in reducing the environmental factors influencing disease - through vaccinations and hygiene - little has been done to target behavioural factors such as physical inactivity.
Physical inactivity has become a major public health problem of our time and finding a way to get people more active is critical to improving health and longevity.
There is clear scientific evidence proving the benefit of regular physical activity on the prevention of diabetes, hypertension, cancer, depression, osteoporosis, and dementia as well as controlling weight. There is also a clear correlation between physical activity and all-cause mortality. Without a doubt, exercise really is medicine, and, in fact, it can be seen as the much needed vaccine to prevent chronic disease and premature death.
So, armed with all this knowledge, why has organised medicine not declared an all-out war against physical inactivity? In the United States, The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association came up with the bold initiative that “exercise is medicine”. They suggested that patients’ level of physical activity be added to their medical records and that their exercise regime should be considered as a vital sign, the idea being that exercise could be prescribed to patients rather than (or as well as) pharmaceutical drugs to help a patient to better health.
Exercise acts as a form of medicine in different ways. It can change sedentary behaviour, reduce risk factors, and enhance immunity. Appropriate exercise can prevent or alleviate disease and prevent its recurrence. Inactivity-related diseases account for a significant and growing cost for healthcare providers whilst exercise can play an important role in helping and preventing certain health conditions.
In the UK the “parkrun practice initiative” was launched in the UK in 2018, with the aim being for GP surgeries to encourage as many staff and patients as possible to take part in parkrun as walkers, joggers, or volunteers. We need to see more initiatives like this rather than our health service being focussed on procedures and pharmaceuticals, while paying little more than lip service to prevention.
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