Exercise is Medicine — National Campaign Urges People to Get Active to Stay Healthy
203.3 Million Americans Are Overweight or Obese
Dr. Robert Sallis Offers Tips to Prevent Chronic Disease by Exercising
Robert Sallis, M.D., immediate past president of the American College of Sports Medicine and chair of Exercise is Medicine
Background:
According to the Center for Disease Control, nearly 40 percent of U.S. adults 82.5 million people are physically inactive. In addition to improving a patients overall health, increasing physical activity has proven effective in weight management and the treatment and prevention of chronic disease.
Thats why Coca-Cola partnered with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) to support Exercise is Medicine (EIM), a nationwide program that encourages doctors to write prescriptions for exercise the same way they would for medications. EIM encourages doctors to assess and review every patients physical activity at each checkup, the same way other vital signs like blood pressure and height are recorded. Doctors are urged to use the prescription pad to order daily exercise, or refer patients to a certified health and fitness professional, with the assumption that doctors orders will carry the necessary weight to get sedentary patients off the couch.
EIM is now offering a free online tool to help consumers create and stick with exercise plans. The free downloadable Public Toolkit, available at www.exerciseismedicine.org, includes step-by-step instructions for consumers to work with a health care provider to determine the right dose of exercise.
For more information visit www.ExerciseisMedicine.org
MORE ABOUT Dr. Robert Sallis:
Dr. Sallis currently serves as the immediate past-president of the American College of Sports Medicine and chairs the Exercise is Medicine initiative for the College. Sallis received his Bachelor of Science from the U.S. Air Force Academy and his Medical Degree from Texas A&M University. He completed his residency at Kaiser Permanente Fontana in 1990, where he served as chief resident. He has been the team physician at Pomona College since 1988 and holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine. He lectures and publishes extensively in the area of sports medicine. He previously received the Irving S. Rasgon, M.D. Award for Excellence in Family Medicine Research. Sallis currently serves as editor-in-chief of Current Sports Medicine Reports and associate editor of ACSMs scientific journal, Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
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