Next time your doctor tells you to exercise more, ask for details in writing. Researchers in Spain found that inactive people who got prescriptions from their primary-care docs logged more physical activity time. In the study, 2,248 adults received advice about being active, a 15-minute consultation to develop an exercise plan, a pamphlet, and an education session aimed at picking a goal and overcoming barriers. They also received a printed prescription detailing how often, how long, and how hard they should work out. Another group of 2,069 participants got care as usual. After six months, those who had received fitness advice and a prescription reported being more physically active than the control group and were more likely to hit physical activity targets.
Source: Archives of Internal Medicine, April 13, 2009