Physicians are beginning to prescribe patients physical activity to improve the health of overweight patients, calling exercise a "vital sign" to be measured when recording other biometrics like pulse and blood pressure, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Instead of only explaining the health risks associated with an inactive lifestyle, physicians are instead suggesting a certain amount of exercise for patients, and in some cases referring patients to certified trainers or physical therapists to design exercise regimens suitable for those with conditions such as asthma or diabetes.
Exercise is Medicine, a program overseen by the American College of Sports Medicine, is driving the effort that encourages healthcare providers to include physical activity when creating treatment plans for patients, according to WSJ.
Despite the widely recognized benefits of exercise in preventing and controlling a number of diseases, studies show physicians don't always advise patients to add more physical activity, according to the article. Furthermore, citing a 2011 study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, only about 10 percent of adults actually met the federal guideline of 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity, though 62 percent reported they did.
According to WSJ, some large health systems are already seeing benefits of prescribing exercise. For example, Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif., has implemented a program called Vital Sign in which nurses or medical assistants include patients' reported number of minutes of exercise per week in their EMRs along with other traditional vital signs. Physicians use this information to identify patients who may benefit from additional exercise. They may refer them to a variety of professionals to design an appropriate exercise regimen, such as a telephone health coach, behavioral specialist and others. Kaiser also sponsors an exercise app that helps track and encourage movement.
During a pilot program at four Kaiser Northern California centers between April 2010 and October 2011, the Vital Sign program was associated with weight loss in overweight patients and improved control of blood sugar, according to WSJ. Improved control over conditions like diabetes through exercise could mean physicians won't have to increase medication or start a patient on a new one, the article suggests.