Sebastian Kvarme in Volvat claims on news Ytring that in Dagsrevyen 24.7 I cast doubt on the effect of physical activity as a treatment method. “Alarming and outdated”, writes Kvarme. But if there is anything that is alarming, it is that the Volvat manager is not more up to date. The first working day at the GP’s office after the holiday offered many exciting meetings with patients whom I have guided to use physical activity as a treatment for health problems. Besides the obvious health benefits, many of these patients have in common that they experience a tremendous sense of mastery that boosts their psyche. Storting representative Erlend Svardal Bøe tells in the Dagsrevy feature that after a visit to the doctor a year and a half ago, he experienced what regular exercise can do for health. The health politician from the Conservative Party now wants GPs to prescribe more exercise as an alternative to medication. “The Medical Association is positive about the proposal”, the feature further states. Then it follows that Kvarme twists that the Medical Association casts doubt on the effect of physical activity as a treatment: “… but emphasizes that the effect of exercise as a treatment has so far not been sufficiently well documented”. The sentence is taken from a longer interview where I call for the need for more systematic research into the use of physical activity as treatment. While at population level we know a lot about the effect of preventing health problems through increased physical activity and healthy lifestyle choices, we have less documentation about exercise as a treatment. The knowledge we have is too little known – and used – both among doctors and patients. Then we need to collectively promote this knowledge together with the health authorities. When politicians advocate that doctors should use exercise as treatment to a greater extent, we therefore support this. We also hope to put in place a long-term, strategic investment and supply of funds for research into and dissemination of knowledge about this. Here, the Medical Association is more than ready to contribute. From doctors’ offices, we know that a well-motivated patient who receives good advice can achieve a great deal through a changed lifestyle, where regular exercise over time is a key tool. Measures that promote public health have been a core area of the Norwegian Medical Association’s commitment to health policy since its establishment in 1886. In recent decades, the Norwegian Medical Association has focused on challenges related to overdiagnosis and overtreatment. Several investigations and treatments carried out today are of little or no use to the patient – and some of this is directly harmful. The medical association therefore took the initiative a few years ago for the campaign “Gjør kloke valg”, which is a Norwegian offshoot of the international movement “Choosing wisely”. The campaign aims to reduce medical overactivity. Equalizing social inequalities in health is another area of focus, and measures to help the population lead healthier lives through diet and increased physical activity are central to this. In the report Pulsen opp for better health, which the undersigned helped create for the Norwegian Medical Association ten years ago, physical activity is referred to as the world’s best medicine. The report concludes, among other things, that it is therefore also worrying that children and young people are less active than before. As one of many measures to counter this, the Medical Association wanted one hour of organized physical activity to be compulsory for all pupils in the school. Ten years later, after a lot of work together with good partners, we are happy to see that this is about to come into place. All this shows that good public health is enshrined in the Norwegian Medical Association’s DNA. We therefore support all initiatives that promote more physical activity in society. Follow the debate:
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Of course, physical activity is medicine – Expression
