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What if there was one prescription

that could prevent and treat

dozens of diseases, such as diabetes,

hypertension and obesity?

-Robert E. Sallis, M.D., M.P.H., FACSM, Exercise is Medicine™ Task Force Chairman

Would you take a medication that could

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Would you take a medication that could

Reduce risk of heart disease by

40%3

Would you take a medication that could

Lowers the risk of stroke by

27%4

Would you take a medication that could

Reduce the incidence of diabetes by almost

50%5

Would you take a medication that could

Reduce the incidence of high blood pressure by almost

50%6

Would you take a medication that could

Can reduce mortality and the risk of recurrent breast cancer

by almost

50%7

Would you take a medication that could

Can lower the risk of colon cancer by over

60%8

Exercise is MEDICINE!

• Tremendous health benefits are seen with even low levels of exercise.

• Amount of exercise needed to benefit health is much lower than amount needed for fitness

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PROBLEM

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17

20

29

43

55

43

85

400

435

0 100 200 300 400 500

Illicit use of drugs

Sexual behaviors

Incidents involving firearms

Motor vehicle crashes

Toxic substances

Microbial agents

Alcohol

Inactivity/Poor diet

Tobacco

Deaths per Year in U.S. (1,000s)JAMA March 10, 2004

Leading Causes of Death, US

1. Tobacco, 18.1%

2. Poor diet and Physical inactivity, 16.6%

3. Alcohol, 3.5%

Actual Causes of Death

Cooper Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study, 1970-2004. In progress

40,842 Men & 12,943 Women, ACLS

*cardio respiratory fitness

Effect of Fitness (CRF) on Mortality Attributable Fractions (%) for

All-Cause Deaths

Blair SN. Physical inactivity: the biggest public health problem of the 21st century. Br J Sports Med 2009; 43:1-2.

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SOLUTION

Exercise is MEDICINE!

• Tremendous health benefits are seen with even low levels of exercise.

• Amount of exercise needed to benefit health is much lower than amount needed for fitness

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Look AHEAD study

15Diabetes Care, Vol 33(6) 1153-58.

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• “If we had a pill that gave all those benefits and was readily available, we would find a way to make sure every patient took it.”-Robert E. Sallis, M.D.

• Why isn’t this happening with exercise?

– Lack of media advocacy.

– No tangible success measures.

– Physicians are lacking the time to effectively counsel patients.

– Physicians may lack the proper training to effectively counsel patients about exercise.

– No national reimbursement policy for referrals.

• Minimal side effects:

– Overuse injuries – start low and go slow.

– Sudden death – very rare.

The Solution: Physical Activity

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U.S. Physical Activity GuidelinesAge No Chronic Conditions Chronic Conditions

Children & Adolescents (6-17)

60 minutes or more of physical activity every day (moderate*- or vigorous**-intensity aerobic physical activity).

Vigorous-intensity activity at least 3 days per week.

Muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activity at least 3 days per week.

Develop a physical activity plan with your health care professional. Avoid inactivity.Refer to the Your Prescription for Health series.

Adults(18-64)

150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity, or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activityMuscle-strengthening activities that involve all major muscle groups performed on 2 or more days per week.

Develop a physical activity plan with your health care professional. Be as physically active as possible. Avoid inactivityRefer to the Your Prescription for Health series.

Older Adults(65+)

Follow the adult guidelines, or be as physically active as possible. Avoid inactivity.Exercises that maintain or improve balance if at risk of falling.

Develop activity plan with health care professional.Refer to the Your Prescription for Health series.

From the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans

For more information on these guidelines, visit www.acsm.org/physicalactivity.

150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity

physical activity• Choose your own schedule • For example: 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, five days per week OR three 10-minute sessions per day,

five days per week

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• Evidence is now overwhelming on the health burden of physical inactivity.

• The benefits of exercise in the treatment and prevention of chronic disease cannot be denied.

• We cannot continue to ignore this evidence when formulating treatment plans for our patients.

• No patient should leave a doctor’s office without an assessment of his/her physical activity and proper prescription of an exercise program, or a referral to a qualified fitness professional..

Summary