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“I congratulate California for taking the lead in signing up health care professionals to prescribe exercise,” said acting U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H. “This type of preventative medicine is important to the long-term health of California and the nation.”
“Physical fitness and health are not Republican or Democratic issues, they are national issues and we’re proud to be at the forefront of addressing them,” said Governor’s Council Chairman Jake Steinfeld. “This year, more than 150,000 K-12 students have taken the Governor’s Challenge to exercise for 30 to 60 minutes a day at least three times a week and now we have more than 2,000 doctors who have just joined our team — together we hope to help California become known not only as the Golden State, but also the Nation’s Fitness State.”
Exercise is Medicine is a national initiative that was launched last November by the American Medical Association (AMA) and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). The California Governor’s Council has staked out a leadership position with this initiative by signing up more than 2,000 doctors, many of them affiliated with Kaiser Permanente’s Southern California Permanente Medical Group, to begin prescribing exercise to their patients immediately.
“There is overwhelming evidence for the benefits of exercise in both the treatment and prevention of chronic disease,” said Robert E. Sallis, M.D., ACSM president. “I urge all California physicians to log on to http://www.CalGovCouncil.org/ExerciseIsMedicine to sign up and support the program by prescribing exercise to their patients. Exercise really is a wonderful medicine … and it’s FREE!”
A 2007 survey conducted by ACSM found that nearly two-thirds of patients (65%) would be more interested in exercising to stay healthy if advised by their doctor. Only four out of 10 physicians (41%) talk to their patients about the importance of exercise, however.
Physical inactivity is a fast-growing public health problem in this country and contributes to a variety of chronic diseases and health complications, including obesity, coronary artery disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, cancer, depression and anxiety, arthritis and osteoporosis.
Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
A non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting physical activity for all Californians with an emphasis on children and youth. Governor Schwarzenegger is the Honorary Chairman and Council members include Chairman Jake Steinfeld, Vice Chairman Peter Vidmar, and California sports legends such as Jerry Rice, Michelle Kwan, Tony Hawk, Julie Foudy, Lisa Fernandez, Lisa Leslie, Misty May-Treanor, Jack LaLanne and John Wooden. For more information visit http://www.CalGovCouncil.org
SOURCE Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports / PRNewswire
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Great!
I guess this means that I my exercise gear and gym membership will be tax deductible, just like my medications.
Right?
Interesting. My first thought was that we all know that exercise is good for us so I’m not getting why they think anyone would change their lifestyle because of being told to exercise.
Health workers have been saying “exercise” for decades… either people have done it or they haven’t. Wouldn’t a doc saying “exercise” accomplish not much more than “yeah, yeah, I knew that” ?
Katharina,
The doctor’s prescribing exercise, and then the patient’s failing to start, could be labelled as “noncompliance, which could get your health insurance terminated if there is a clause allowing for such things in your policy.
Beware the appearance of altruism!
Never thought about the insurance companies getting you for noncompliance. I sure don’t want to have to worry about that.
Tater03,
I imagine the people proposing this are hoping people don’t realize this added effect!
Ah yes… the ol’ noncompliance bugaboo. I hadn’t thought of that and you’re right. If a doc tells you to do it and you don’t, it sure could affect what insurance will pay.
I wonder if there will be any consumer groups demanding protections against this being abused?
It wouldn’t take much for an unscrupulous doctor to prescribe exercise out of a misplaced streak of sadism, for people that it hasn’t helped in the past.
Good points made here. Makes one wonder what would happen if the universal health care went into effect. I think Drs. should focus on healthy living and exercise should not be a prescription, rather a suggestion.
It’s amazing to watch how things are more and more turning toward “freedoms” taken away (not sure if this exercise prescription issue is a good example though) in the “land of freedoms.”
And what if exercise is prescribed and doesn’t WORK? Is the person still punished?
Katharina,
Penalties for noncompliance are just something being tossed around, right now. I am sure that each health insurance company would have their own policies if prescriptions exercise becomes more than an idea.
Honestly I think you are going to find that insurance companies in general are going to find any reason to not have to pay. I think that is sad because it is all about money in the end.
A couple of years ago, I probably would have disagreed with that, tater03. But I’m not so sure that I can disagree now. It *does* seem that they are denying more and more while people keep throwing money at them for more policies.
I too find it interesting how many of our freedoms are being changed. It is all presented in a manner that is supposed to “be good for you”.
I have yet to find an insurance company that truly shows that it is about more than just “their” money.As times are changing, it seems it will only get worse.
It is really sad because I to think it will get worse before it gets better. Bottom line I just don’t feel it is a jobs responsibility to tell me what is or what is not good for me. Unless it is something like drugs where I could pose a danger to other while on the job.
SageMother, in Vancouver BC Canada, we actually have very good social programs.
Believe it or not, if you have a valid reason, you probably can get your gym membership paid off
My last job paid for my yearly gym membership.
Katharina, I don’t know about that.
I’ve always been an active person so exercise or physical activity has always been a part of my lifestyle.
During dinner with my cousins the other day, one of my “boy” cousins told me that he is trying to be more healthy because his doctor told him he’s overweight. So, I guess it does matter to some people.
Wow, Diva.
Having a gym membership paid for would remove any excuses for not using it!
Tater03, I think the least of your worries is your insurance company.
If your doctor says you need to lose weight, then you should because you can end up getting really sick if you don’t. It’s just for the betterment of your health.
Katharina, I’m not really sure what type of insurance you have there, but my insurance will still pay for it as long as I was insured before any pre-existing complications arise.
EviesEarth, that’s why I am so thankful that I live in Canada because we implement a very good social program here that entitles every Canadian to healthcare.
Katharina, I think being prescribed to being more active shouldn’t be considered a “freedom” of choice that is being taken away.
There is a reason why they are doctors and we are not. If your doctor says you should lose the extra weight, it’s just plain stupidity not to go ahead and do it. They are not there to tell you to do that without any justification.
I think we all need to consider that weight problems will affect our lives. If not now, tomorrow. We need to start building a better future for ourselves by taking of our bodies properly.
For those that think otherwise, well, you can always opt out going to the doctor and asking for their opinion.
SageMother, I am not sure really why health companies will penalize you for not following the instructions to the tee for exercising.
It’s not even a fine line in between presribing medication to prescribing exercise. It’s a huge gap.
I really believe that we take our medicine to get better regardless of what the expected outcome is to make us feel better, shouldn’t we treat exercise the same way?
SageMother, tell me about it!
The workforce market is so competitive where I live, that sign on packages are getting more lucrative.
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