Here’s a very cute study from Scandinavia that should apply to nearly everyone reading this.
Apparently, doctors in Sweden have been able to “prescribe” physical activity to their patients for a few years now.
I’m not quite sure how they do it although they probably just write an (illegible) prescription that says something like: for Sven Peterson, 35 minutes of cardio every day, 15 minutes of weight-training three times a week, and no more than 2 hours of TV a night. Repeat 3 times a year as necessary.
But however it’s done, it’s apparently working to get more Swedes to be more active, because in this study, the researchers say that they followed 98 individuals in 4 different areas of the country, all of whom had been prescribed “physical activity” by their doctors. They found that the majority “follow their prescription and reduce their sedentary leisure time”.
Now, there may just be something about Swedes, that makes them more likely than people elsewhere to stick to a prescription like this (one that they could easily just ignore, just like so many people ignore medication prescriptions from doctors). But I doubt it and I think that many Canadians would also follow a prescription such as this if only someone prescribed it to them.
So, in my ongoing attempts to make every Canadian be as healthy as they can be, here’s a prescription for anyone reading this from your local media doctor (and hey, it’s also in a format that you are able to read properly): do some cardio exercise (but first make sure to check with your own doctor that your heart can take it) 3-4 times a week for 30 (or more) minutes, some weight-training (and make sure you know how to do this properly by getting someone who’s an expert in it to show you proper technique) for 15-30 minutes, 2-3 times a week, and work on your balance and flexibility as often as you can think of it.
And make an appointment to see me again in 6 months. Next, please.
