Monitoring physical activity gives patients a pep in their step

Maintaining a level of physical activity is key in not only preventing the rise of obesity, but also many chronic diseases. A recent study led by researchers from the American Cancer Society, and published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, showed that continuous assessments of physical activity during visits to the physician could lower rates of chronic diseases.

In addition to discussing physical activity, researchers believe that building a detailed and personalized activity plan that can be monitored will also lower rates of chronic diseases. Currently, 51 percent of adults are not meeting the daily need for physicial activity. This lack of movement is a direct link to increases in chronic diseases like cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke and depression.

Led by Kerem Shuval, PhD, and Tammy Leonard, PhD, the study results also included:

·        The physician activity consultations can be used to build a comprehensive physical evaluation, tracking the rate of chronic disease progression and lowering that rate in patients.

·        A detailed physical activity plan can be monitored by physicians to track the patients progress in lowering rates of chronic diseases as well as setting goals for patient to meet.

·        Changes in physical activity also lead to changes in patient’s environment, leading to further improvements in health.

"Physical activity is a modifiable behavior that has the potential to prevent numerous diseases, however, so many of us are not sufficiently active. Both conscious and unconscious factors are at play that influence our behavior," said Shuval. "It's difficult to choose activities we 'should' do over those we 'want' to do. Clinicians can help play a role in creating strategies, like encouraging the use of pre-commitment contracts, which impose constraints on our 'future selves' to act in a way the will benefit us in the long run."