About the Program

Part of the Lifestyle Medicine Core Competencies program, this topic module contains four units:

Introduction to Physical Activity Part 1 and Part 2: The Role of Healthcare Providers in Physical Activity Counseling | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM

• There is very strong scientific evidence showing that physically active people have higher levels of health-related fitness, lower risk profile for disabling medical conditions, and lower rates of various chronic diseases than do people who are inactive. Physical inactivity causes nearly one in 10 premature deaths.  This unit reviews the relationship between physical activity and health, defines physical activity and exercise, identifies the components of exercise, and summarizes the United States Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.

The Science Behind Physical Activity Part 1 and Part 2: Sitting and Inactivity | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM

• Physical inactivity and inadequate exercise are some of the most common preventable causes of morbidity and mortality. If this were a recognized syndrome or diagnosis like hypertension and diabetes it would be easier to educate the public and medical community about the one universally effective treatment for it, physical activity. This unit reviews the use of METS in measuring exercise intensity and fitness, the minimum and maximum levels of exercise, the evidence for the components of physical activity and key physical activity assessment tools. 

Healthcare Providers Role in Physical Activity Counseling Part 1 and Part 2: Filling the Exercise Prescription | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM

• Promotion of physical activity to sedentary adults in the primary care setting has an impact on physical activity levels. The United States Preventive Services Task Force encourages health care providers to counsel on lifestyle modifications for patients with known risk factors. In this unit, the healthcare provider's role in physical activity counseling is discussed, the physical activity “vital sign” is introduced, and the steps for developing an exercise prescription are reviewed. The key role of the health professional’s personal behavior and role modeling is also emphasized. This unit also describes how to collaborate with patients to promote physical activity change, identifies resources for sustainable behavior change, and reviews the components of writing the exercise prescription.

Physical Activity for Specific Health Conditions Part 1 and Part 2: Physical Activity for the Chronically Ill | Edward M. Phillips, MD, DipABLM

• If inactivity were decreased by 25%, more than one million deaths world-wide could be averted annually. Physical inactivity contributes to coronary heart disease, diabetes, and breast and colon cancers. Evidence-based recommendations exist for different population groups. This unit reviews the treatment of disease with exercise as compared with medication and evidence-based physical activity recommendations for a variety of patient groups and conditions, including children, healthy older adults, pregnancy, obesity, heart disease, diabetes, cancer, stroke and disability.