Less than half of physicians trained in the U.S. in 2013 received formal training on the role of exercise in maintaining good health, according to a study from Corvallis-based Oregon State University.
In a review of 118 medical schools, researchers found 51 percent did not offer courses on physical activity, 21 percent offered just one course and 82 percent had no physical activity-related course requirements.
"There are immense medical benefits to exercise; it can help as much as medicine to address some health concerns," Brad Cardinal, PhD, co-author of the study and national expert on the benefits of physical activity, said in a statement. "Because exercise has medicinal as well as other benefits, I was surprised that medical schools didn’t spend more time on it."
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