Promotion of exercise in primary care

From the British Medical Journal: The health benefits of exercise are so great that it is probably the most important self help treatment available. Regular exercise reduces the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and death from all causes. Regular physical activity and structured exercise can also reduce falls and injuries, and it is a key factor in the prevention and management of osteopenia and osteoporosis. It also promotes mental wellbeing and helps people to manage their weight. Effective promotion of exercise could result in substantial healthcare savings, but this is hampered by our limited knowledge of how to achieve sustained increases in physical activity. The linked study by Lawton and colleagues assesses the effectiveness of an "exercise on prescription" programme in less active women in primary care over two years.