Doctors encouraged to prescribe exercise like medicine for chronic conditions
Exercise can work as well as medicine for depression, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, Australian health experts say.
Australian doctors are being encouraged to prescribe exercise as a formal treatment, not just general advice. Dr Isobelle Smith, a general practitioner, says exercise should be treated like medicine.
Exercise should have specific doses and frequency. Research shows exercise can match certain medicines.
It helps treat depression and high blood pressure. It can also help prevent type 2 diabetes.
People with osteoporosis benefit from exercise. People recovering from heart attacks or strokes also benefit.
A survey of 118 Australian doctors found that more than half doubted patients could meet exercise guidelines. But Dr Smith's research found that 95% of patients prefer exercise to medicine.
Short doctor visits and costs of supervised sessions are barriers doctors face. Dr Smith is calling for government support.
Exercise programs should be affordable for all income levels.
- General practitioner and endocrinologist
- Dr Isobelle Smith
- 118
- Doctors surveyed
- 95%
- Patient exercise preference
Why it mattersIf doctors regularly prescribe exercise, more people could manage chronic diseases with less medicine or no medicine at all.
AustraliaAustralian healthcare could shift toward more exercise-based treatment plans, potentially reducing medication costs and improving patient health outcomes.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 1 h ago
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