If there were a little-to-no cost medication that would cause weight loss, prevent diseases, boost confidence, and improve all bodily functions … would you take it?

Well this is one prescription that you can ask from your doctor that won’t have you heading straight to the pharmacy. Many people don’t realize that exercise (yes, exercise!) is another form of medicine that does more than just shape your body—it cures and prevents illnesses better than any drug on the market.

So you may be wondering why you haven’t ever been prescribed this miracle drug … and there really isn’t one single answer to that question. But two well-known health organizations know the miraculous effects that regular exercise has on a person’s overall health, and they are urging doctors and patients to make exercise and physical activity discussions a part of a regular check-up.

The American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Association have teamed up to launch an initiative called Exercise is Medicine™ that brings attention to the fact that exercise is the most powerful, preventative and disease-fighting medicine that can be prescribed. They created this program because there has been an overall lack of this discussion in the past and because they believe people should be educated about the importance of staying physically active. Whether it is because the doctor is too busy or the patient doesn’t know what to ask, they realize this opportunity hasn’t been available to everyone. As a result, the Exercise is Medicine™ program is providing resources that promote and guide this conversation, so everyone can have a chance to discuss this topic with a physician.

Your doctor’s office is one of the safest places to receive advice about how to start and maintain an exercise program, because your primary care physician knows about your health and history. It is also a great place to receive referrals for fitness professionals and trainers and learn about how to keep your body healthy. The next time you visit your doctor, try taking a moment to mention the Exercise is Medicine™ initiative and ask for your personal exercise prescription, so you can start taking the healthiest medicine around.

Exercise is the kind of medicine that works to keep our bodies healthy all the time—and not just when we are sick. But in order for it to work, you will have to stay motivated and keep up with your program. It isn’t like a pharmaceutical medication—you can’t just take it when you feel bad. It is a preventative and curing medicine that requires you to treat yourself to any activity … like a long walk in the evening or an exciting game of tennis with your friends … almost every day. Once you begin to exercise, you will feel the results both physically and mentally—and you won’t have any crazy side effects to worry about!

Find out more about how make physical activity a topic of discussion at your next visit by logging on to www.exerciseismedicine.org.

Other helpful resources:

American College of Sports Medicine www.acsm.org

American Medical Association www.ama-assn.org

May-kit Happen www.may-kithappen.org