Strategies and Talking Points for Physical Fitness Counseling in Primary Care
| Assess physical activity at each visit (including type of activity, frequency, intensity, duration) |
| Link physical fitness with reduced risk of diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, stroke, many cancers, depression/anxiety, premature mortality |
| Address both aerobic activity and muscle strengthening, which together can be as important as weight loss |
| WHO physical activity guidelines for adults |
| Aerobic activity: ≥150 minutes of moderate activity per week (e.g., 30 minutes/day of brisk walking, slow biking) or ≥75 minutes of vigorous activity per week (e.g., 15 minutes/day of jogging/running, fast bicycling, swimming laps) |
| Muscle strengthening: ≥2 times per week (does not require equipment, but instead may include push-ups, sit-ups, and lunges) |
| WHO physical activity guidelines for children and youth |
| Aerobic activity: ≥60 minutes of moderate or vigorous activity per day |
| Muscle strengthening: ≥3 times per week (e.g., monkey bars and pull-ups) |
| Prescribe an agreed-upon physical activity tailored to patient's interests, gradually working up to the recommended levels above |
| Encourage record-keeping and provide encouragement or recognize success at each visit |
WHO, World Health Organization.