Doctor's Life Magazine, Tampa Bay Doctor's Life Tampa Bay Vol. 1 Issue 6, 2013 | Page 13

exercise counseling will be more credible and motivating to
patients.
“I’m a strong believer in doctors practicing what they
preach, and I think this study illustrates the concept perfectly
because it’s based on doctors’ objective markers of health,”
said Lobelo, a health scientist with the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention. “Physicians must set the
example of physical activity and health for their patients.”
In the study, students’ health and fitness were measured
by waist circumference, body mass index, fasting glucose
levels and lipid profiles, in addition to the 20-meter shuttle
run test. Attitudes toward physical activity counseling were
gauged through students’ answers to “How relevant do you
think it will be in your future medical practice to counsel your
patients on physical activity?” and “I will have the ability
to counsel my patients more credibly and effectively if I am
physically active.”
“Previous evidence indicates that nearly two-thirds of
patients would be more willing to become physically active
if their doctors advise it, and these patients find an active,
healthy doctor’s advice more credible and motivating,”
said Lobelo. “It is critical for current and future doctors to
understand the public health importance of providing physical
activity counseling to every patient.”
Physical activity counseling and prescription by health
care providers is a key component of Exercise is Medicine,
a signature initiative of the American College of Sports
Medicine. Individuals looking to start the conversation with
a do