Physical activity is a well-documented tool in the prevention and treatment of over 30 different diagnoses and conditions. The Norwegian Institute of Public Health (FHI) is clear about that, and they base their conclusion on a number of comprehensive and recognized research studies. Therefore, it is remarkable when a representative of the Swedish Medical Association casts doubt on the effectiveness of physical activity as a treatment method in a feature in Dagsrevyen on exercise and lifestyle diseases. In the report, we meet parliamentary representative Erlend Svardal Bøe, who by changing his diet and starting to exercise has lost 25 kilos and lowered the cholesterol level in his body significantly over the course of a year and a half. He believes that GPs should prescribe physical activity as a form of treatment, just as they prescribe medication. In the same feature, the Norwegian Medical Association concludes that the effect of training has so far not been sufficiently well documented. Head of the professional board of the Medical Association Ståle Onsgård Sagabråten says the following: “The documentation is not able to match the documentation that the pharmaceutical companies bring to market and include in their guidelines for the treatment of a number of conditions.”. He relies on the fact that the effect of exercise as medicine is too little known. Physical activity can prevent, and in some cases treat, a number of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes type 2, several forms of cancer, mental disorders and premature death. Strength training has also been shown to have a great effect on both the prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders. For some diagnoses, physical activity may be sufficient treatment, for others physical activity must be combined with medical treatment. It is important that the Medical Association and GPs are proactive when it comes to recommending and prescribing physical activity both as a preventive measure and as treatment. They also have a responsibility to disseminate research results that show the benefits of physical activity as an alternative or supplement to medicine. Instead of speaking for the pharmaceutical industry, they should stand on the barricades so that physical activity can be prescribed in the same way as pharmaceuticals – with the same financial incentive and funding. Getting patients into physical activity should be GPs’ first priority. They then spare the patient a number of side effects and save society billions. If the Medical Association doubts the research that FHI relies on, I would recommend that they look away from the research presented by the pharmaceutical industry, and rather study the information that is out there about the effects of physical activity. A large study from 2013 showed that physical activity and exercise had at least as good, or better, effect than medical treatment on a number of lifestyle diseases. Researchers Huseyin Naci and John PA Loannidis gathered the results from 305 different studies with a total of approx. 340,000 participants. Since then, several other studies have been published that support the results of the two researchers. Physical activity is at worst harmless and at best therapeutic. For the vast majority of people, physical activity will bring great health benefits. How much documentation must the Medical Association have access to before they recognize physical activity as a treatment method? The Medical Association is an important public health actor, and GPs are central to the treatment of patients with lifestyle diseases. Instead of waiting to respond to Storting representative Erlend Svardal Bøe’s initiative, they should enter into a dialogue with the politicians about how physical activity can be included in the course of treatment and get the necessary funding. This can happen through the public wellness centres, which are suitable for some, but also in collaboration with private players who have knowledge of physical activity as medicine. But first the Medical Association must recognize physical activity as a treatment method.
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