from HOPE WARSHAW, RD, CDE who was attending the Food and Nutrition Expo of the American Dietetic Assoc.
Exercise is Medicine! Understanding the Evidence and Initiating the Client Conversation: Prior to this session, I was unaware of the Exercise is Medicine initiative of the American College of Sports Medicine and American Medical Association. Robert Sallis, MD, Chair of the Exercise is Medicine Task Force, kicked off the program giving us our marching orders: nutrition professionals MUST integrate exercise advice and encouragement into our counseling.
He noted, “physical inactivity has an astonishing array of harmful health effects and that physical inactivity is THE major public health problem of our time.” As we know with prediabetes and type 2, exercise is a powerful prevention and treatment tool. Relevant to many people at risk for and with T2, low level of fitness is a bigger risk factor for mortality than mild to moderate obesity. Sallis noted that the benefits of physical activity are the same regardless of weight status.
The litany of mental and physical health benefits are well known to us all. Exercise is Medicine promotes several concepts:
- assess and discuss exercise with every patient, every visit and make it part of every treatment plan,
- record exercise as a vital sign
- provide consistent message across providers.
Joan Hill, RD, CDE, LDN
Consultant to the Diabetes Prevention & Control Program
Massachusetts Department of Public Health
250 Washington Street, 4th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Fitness Together has created a program specifically for Type 2 Diabetics.
To view videos on our Type 2 Diabetes Study and Program, go here.
For more information on the study and program go here.
