Fitness Prescription - Would You Comply?

by Jacki Donaldson (Subscribe to Jacki Donaldson's posts)
Apr 29th 2009 4:00PM

Categories: Fitness

There are plenty of reasons why I feel guilty when I skip out on exercise. But as a breast cancer survivor, I know that regular vigorous exercise can cut my chance of recurrence by something crazy like 30 percent. So, ditching the workouts, for me, is like rejecting a potent dose of medicine. I've essentially been given a prescription for exercise, and when I don't log my hours, I feel like I'm denying myself a life-saving treatment.

Doctors never told me exercise could save my life -- I figured it out on my own after reading up on breast cancer research. But there is some merit to doctors doling out fitness prescriptions. According to one study, more than half of patients who were prescribed physical activity were more active a year later, which is maybe why some researchers urge physicians to hand out exercise recommendations, just like they do prescriptions for drugs. And just like they do with their hand-written scripts, docs should advise patients about what type of exercise to do, how often, how hard and for how long.

Clearly, we all need a push now and then when it comes to fitness. And for those who have a hard time saying no to authority, or who need to know their health depends on a certain exercise routine, prescriptions might be the way to go.

What do you think: Would you follow your doctor's exercise orders? Do you think you could write your own prescription for fitness?

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Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

u262f 4-29-2009 @ 11:05PM

It depends. If doctors start prescribing exercise for anybody who's obese, people would stop listening to doctors who prescribe exercise the way people stop listening to boys who cry wolf. My doctor has already been recommending exercises for decades, and the only benefit it had on my health is that I now have a very healthy skepticism of doctors. (I also don't fill half my antibiotic prescriptions because they over-prescribe antibiotics, and I don't always need them.) However, if it's backed by numbers and there's a good reason for it, I'd listen. For example, I started taking my health seriously when my blood sugar and blood pressure turned out dangerously high as well. Yes, doctors should prescribe exercise, but there should be a more serious reason than just being above BMI 30.

Average Guy Workouts 5-02-2009 @ 12:07AM

Yes i agree with u262f .it's depend on Doctor.Any exercise is better than nothing.Get out for a walk, jog, or other type of cardio workout. it's second most tips for to loss your weight i read this in http://fatburningexercises.wordpress.com blog.

Baron 4-30-2009 @ 9:23AM

A prescription would be fine with me for the sole reason that I could use my HSA to pay for it, saving me just a bit in taxes. There is also the possibility that my actual insurance would pick up a portion of the bill as well. Every little bit helps!

Sensei J. Richard Kirkham B.Sc. 5-22-2009 @ 11:06PM

Another GREAT reason to exercise. My compliments to your courage

Rick
How to Exercise Throughout Your Day Printable Ebook by Kirkham
http://newbieservices.com/MAForum/index.php/topic,44.0.html