1. “Exercise is Medicine” A Public Health Initiative Shawn Spooner, MD Sports Medicine / Urgent Access UnityPoint Clinic, Urbandale IA

2. The prevalence of physical inactivity It is a pandemic Decreasing the prevalence of physical inactivity by 25% would avert 1.3 million deaths annually. In 2003, the overall prevalence of physical inactivity worldwide was 31.1% Physical inactivity is also greater in high-income countries.

3. The economic burden of physical inactivity Consistent data that 1-4% of total direct healthcare costs are attributable to physical inactivity. Behavioral intervention strategies can prevent and mitigate physical inactivity Multidisciplinary team: physicians, nurses, health educators, physical therapists, counselors, exercise specialists, personal trainers, dieticians, and peers

4. Investment in health A factor potentially mitigating investment in health promotion is that the benefits are manifested a long time after initial expenditures (future discounting). Evidence based examples include investing in child health and focus on high-risk populations, with a view to reducing healthcare costs at a future point.

6. Exercise is Medicine (EIM) Solution Community-based platform to combat obesity, sedentary lifestyles and chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension and arthritis.

7. Exercise and physical activity are important to health and the prevention and treatment of many chronic diseases. More should be done to address physical activity and exercise in healthcare settings. Multi-organizational efforts to bring a greater focus on physical activity and exercise in healthcare settings are to be encouraged. Policy makers are called to change policy to support physical activity as a “Vital Sign” for health. Health care providers and fitness professionals are called to integrate exercise into every patient and client interaction.

8. Exercise Vital Sign Exercise is Medicine Initiative Along with the National Physical Activity Plan, Exercise is Medicine strives to make physical activity a “Vital Sign” that is routinely assessed at every patient interaction with a healthcare provider.

9. “What gets measured, gets managed.” – Peter Drucker Physical activity measurement Must consider accuracy of physical inactivity estimates. Now have objective devices for physical activity assessment.

10. Exercise Vital Sign could aid treatment of disease, cut healthcare costs. Adding a VS for exercise as an assessment tool in clinical settings could improve patient care, according to research published in the Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. Asking patients about their exercise habits could be an important piece of a patient’s care and treatment that is often ignored.

11. Exercise Vital Sign “There is no better indicator of a person’s health and longevity than the minutes per week of activity a patient engages in.” “When incorporated in a healthcare setting, the exercise vital sign can be an important tool for prevention and management of disease.” -- Robert E. Sallis, M.D. (Chairman, Exercise is Medicine advisory board)