Exercise is Medicine

Physical Activity: A Prescription for Health

In February, the 2018 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee submitted its Scientific Report to the US Secretary of Health and Human Services. This report summarizes the scientific evidence on physical activity and health and was used to develop the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. The following table from Part D Integrating the Evidence highlights both established and new findings.

Physical Activity-Related Health Benefits for the General Population and Selected Populations

**Children**
3 to <6 years	Improved bone health and weight status
6 to 17 years	Improved cognitive function Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness Improved bone health Improved cardiovascular risk factor status Improved weight status or adiposity Fewer symptoms of depression

**Adults, all ages**
All-cause mortality	Lower risk
Cardiometabolic conditions	Lower cardiovascular incidence and mortality (including heart disease and stroke) Lower incidence of hypertension Lower incidence of type 2 diabetes
Cancer	Lower incidence of bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, stomach and lung cancers
Brain health	Reduced risk of dementia Improved cognitive function Improved cognitive function following bouts of aerobic activity Improved quality of life Improved sleep Reduced feelings of anxiety and depression in healthy people and in people with existing clinical syndromes Reduced incidence of depression
Weight status	Reduced risk of excessive weight gain Weight loss and the prevention of weight regain following initial weight loss when a sufficient dose of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is attained An additive effect on weight loss when combined with moderate dietary restriction

**Older Adults**
Falls	Reduced incidence of falls Reduced incidence of fall-related injuries
Physical function	Improved physical function in older adults with or without frailty

**Individuals with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions**
Breast cancer	Reduced risk of all-cause and breast cancer mortality
Colorectal cancer	Reduced risk of all-cause and colorectal cancer mortality
Prostate cancer	Reduced risk of prostate cancer mortality
Osteoarthritis	Decreased pain Improved function and quality of life
Hypertension	Reduced risk of progression of cardiovascular disease Reduced risk of increased blood pressure over time
Type 2 diabetes	Reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality Reduced progression of disease indicators: hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, blood lipids, and body mass index
Multiple sclerosis	Improved walking Improved physical fitness
Dementia	Improved cognition
Some conditions with impaired executive function	Improved cognition

Note: Benefits in bold font are those added in 2018; benefits in normal font are those noted in the 2008 Scientific Report. Only outcomes with strong or moderate evidence of effect are included in the table.

Despite the health benefits of regular physical activity and the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle:

Globally, 23 percent of adults 18+ and 80 percent of adolescents are insufficiently active.
According to the US 2016 National Health Interview Survey, 48 percent of adults are NOT meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic activity, and 78 percent of adults are NOT meeting the guidelines for both aerobic and strength training.
U.S. adolescents and adults spend almost eight hours a day in sedentary behaviors.
Approximately 36 percent of adults engage in NO leisure-time physical activity at all.

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Gold level recognition is the highest level of recognition and signifies the implementation of one or several components of the EIM Solution on the University campus, with the potential of extending into the local community. Community partnerships provide real world experience for students, while providing service to the local community.

Gold level campuses must assess physical activity as a vital sign.

A Gold level campus must also be engaged in at least (1) of the following:

* My campus assesses their patients' physical activity as a vital sign?

Yes No

* My campus is creating collaborations between university health care professionals and exercise professionals to provide physical activity prescriptions?

Yes No

* My campus has non-clinical professionals/departments directing students, faculty, and/or staff to the recreation center for health and fitness counseling?

Yes No

* My campus has a computer-based system to track patient participation in physical activity interventions?

Yes No

Other:

Silver level recognition includes activities related to awareness and promotion, and incorporates education for the university’s students, faculty, staff, and health care professionals, as well as those in the surrounding community, on EIM and its mission on campus. Silver campuses are actively engaged in educating others on the EIM solution for both the treatment and prevention of long-term illness and disease. University students are educated on the aims of EIM in health care, potentially certified as EIM health fitness professionals, and guided on how they can play a role in making physical activity an integral part of health care.

Silver level campuses must be engaged in at least (3) of the following: * My campus hosts classes that teach students the fundamentals of EIM on Campus and their potential role in fulfilling the mission of EIM?

Yes No

* My campus trains students to educate campus community members on EIM and the importance of physical activity as medicine?

Yes No

* My campus works with campus health services so that every health care provider discusses physical activity with every patient or client?

Yes No

Other:

Bronze level recognition is the first step in creating the EIM initiative on Campus. These campuses bring attention to the growing need for physical activity and take action in helping to create a healthier, more active campus environment.

Bronze level campuses create awareness of the importance of exercise and regular physical activity for health and promote exercise to students, faculty, staff and the community through engagement in any of the following activities. Bronze level campuses must engage in at least (3) of the following:

* My campus hosts events that promote physical activity?

Yes No

* My campus markets events that encourage all campus members to discuss physical activity with their health care professional?

Yes No

* My campus has created options for exercise that are easily accessible to the campus community?

Yes No

* My campus has completed a Mayoral, Governor, or University President EIM on Campus Month Proclamation?

Yes No

Other:

* Contact Person/Program Director:

* Resource Type (check all that apply):
Clinic or Hospital (inpatient) Community
Clinic or Hospital (outpatient) Home Based
Cancer Exercise Professional Digital/Online
Research Study

* What age groups are included (check all that apply)?
Adult Pediatric

* What cancer types are included in your program?

* What stages of treatment are included (check all that apply)?
Curative    Palliative
During Treatment    Post Treatment
Rehabilitation    Prehabilitation

* Who refers into the program? (How do clients access your program?) (check all that apply)
Client Clinician
Other

* What are the qualifications of the instructors?

* Is there a baseline safety evaluation of the client?

* If yes, performed by whom (check all that apply)?
Instructor Physician
Other

* What is the program duration? (e.g.; 12 weeks, 1 year)

* What is the frequency of sessions per week?

* Are sessions conducted in groups or individualized (check all that apply)?
Group Individualized

* How many years has the program been running?

* How many clients go through your program per year?

* Has your program ever been evaluated or audited?

* Please include a brief description (250 words or less) summarizing the above information:

* Who filled out this form?

* What is your role in the program?

Physical Activity-Related Health Benefits for the General Population and Selected Populations

**Children**
3 to <6 years	Improved bone health and weight status
6 to 17 years	Improved cognitive function Improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness Improved bone health Improved cardiovascular risk factor status Improved weight status or adiposity Fewer symptoms of depression

**Adults, all ages**
All-cause mortality	Lower risk
Cardiometabolic conditions	Lower cardiovascular incidence and mortality (including heart disease and stroke) Lower incidence of hypertension Lower incidence of type 2 diabetes
Cancer	Lower incidence of bladder, breast, colon, endometrium, esophagus, kidney, stomach and lung cancers
Brain health	Reduced risk of dementia Improved cognitive function Improved cognitive function following bouts of aerobic activity Improved quality of life Improved sleep Reduced feelings of anxiety and depression in healthy people and in people with existing clinical syndromes Reduced incidence of depression
Weight status	Reduced risk of excessive weight gain Weight loss and the prevention of weight regain following initial weight loss when a sufficient dose of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is attained An additive effect on weight loss when combined with moderate dietary restriction

**Older Adults**
Falls	Reduced incidence of falls Reduced incidence of fall-related injuries
Physical function	Improved physical function in older adults with or without frailty

**Individuals with Pre-Existing Medical Conditions**
Breast cancer	Reduced risk of all-cause and breast cancer mortality
Colorectal cancer	Reduced risk of all-cause and colorectal cancer mortality
Prostate cancer	Reduced risk of prostate cancer mortality
Osteoarthritis	Decreased pain Improved function and quality of life
Hypertension	Reduced risk of progression of cardiovascular disease Reduced risk of increased blood pressure over time
Type 2 diabetes	Reduced risk of cardiovascular mortality Reduced progression of disease indicators: hemoglobin A1c, blood pressure, blood lipids, and body mass index
Multiple sclerosis	Improved walking Improved physical fitness
Dementia	Improved cognition
Some conditions with impaired executive function	Improved cognition

Despite the health benefits of regular physical activity and the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle:

Globally, 23 percent of adults 18+ and 80 percent of adolescents are insufficiently active.
According to the US 2016 National Health Interview Survey, 48 percent of adults are NOT meeting the Physical Activity Guidelines for aerobic activity, and 78 percent of adults are NOT meeting the guidelines for both aerobic and strength training.
U.S. adolescents and adults spend almost eight hours a day in sedentary behaviors.
Approximately 36 percent of adults engage in NO leisure-time physical activity at all.

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The Power of Physical Activity

Physical Activity: A Prescription for Health

Physical Activity-Related Health Benefits for the General Population and Selected Populations

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