My dad's doctor once told him to lose the spare tire, and sent him to a nutritionist, who gave him a diet plan.<p>Some months later, he went back to the nutritionist for a checkup, and the nutritionist was shocked that he'd actually followed her plan. He became one of those unicorns who kept the weight off until he passed away 30 years later, though he complained that he was always hungry.
It's so obvious it's amazing this hasn't already been a thing since the beginning of the obesity epidemic. Specific exercise instructions are more likely to be followed than a vague admonition to "exercise more". I wonder if gym memberships will be covered as care by health insurance plans? They're certainly a lot cheaper that hospital stays!
In 2014, doctors in Boston were able to begin prescribing a Hubway bike share membership: <a href="https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/03/27/new-program-will-allow-boston-medical-center-doctors-prescribe-bike-sharing-program/zjwfLfCEtAEGfWYxVn4CiN/story.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/03/27/new-program-wil...</a><p>In Boston's case, it's a mutually beneficial arrangement for the city: healthier citizens and less traffic on the roads by converting drivers to bikers.
I'm not entirely sure who wins here. The prescription doesn't mean much aside from that insurance will pay fitness-related bills. But exercise doesn't have to cost anything. Even in the most unwalkable cities there's some place you can go to just walk around in.<p>And who wouldn't doctors prescribe exercise to. If someone comes asking their doctor for an exercise prescription so that they can get a free gym membership, there's no reason for the doctor to say no (save for cases where the patient has a heart disease or similar where regular exercise is inadvisable). Not only will it not <i>hurt</i> the patient, it'll in fact help them. It will also help the doctor as it will help present them as someone who listens to patients and it helps fill appointments.<p>If this becomes widespread, the result will be more expensive insurance (or in Quebec, higher taxes) and more expensive fitness programs.
Any doctor can prescribe exercise, including doctors in the US. You don't really need a lot of equipment, you don't really need gym membership. The issue is whether or not the patient will be compliant with an exercise regimen, and educating them on the importance of exercise and physical activity in general.<p>If the purpose of this is to allow exercise during the actual work day - that would be interesting, but would require the cooperation of employers or some type of federal regulation - in the US, maybe thrown under FMLA.
Thats great. Yeah, there is a huge difference between saying, go exercise, and giving a prescripted regimen. Hopefully they can start having funded exercise programs in the community or based on the general prescriptions the doctors are giving.
Considering all the problems the Quebec medical industry has at the moment, I still wouldn't trust Quebec with the care of myself or my family. It's such an abusive system.
I wonder how well this meshes with the fact that a lot of cities aren't built for walking. Walking is in general good, but is it responsible for your doctor to prescribe you an activity that is actually illegal in the area where you live, due to there being no sidewalks and walking on the street being illegal.