13 Feb 2015

RCGP Response to Report on the Health Benefits of Exercise

Responding to the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges’ report, Dr Maureen Baker, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said:

“There is no doubt that exercise is beneficial for our patients’ physical and mental health – but the extent of the benefits, as outlined in this report, are astounding.

“Cancer, dementia, type-2 diabetes, stroke and heart disease limit our patients’ lives - as well as costing the NHS in excess of billions every year - so whatever we can do to help prevent these should be encouraged.

“GPs are well-placed to educate our patients about the benefits of leading a healthy lifestyle and today’s report shows how incorporating a modest amount of exercise into our daily routines can ensure our long-term health.

“But simply telling patients what to do is not enough – long term behaviour change is very hard and requires ongoing support and access to help over time.

“We need more resources in general practice and more GPs so that we can spend more time with our patients on preventing them getting ill, as well as caring for them when they are ill.”

 

Further Information

RCGP Press office: 020 3188 7574/7575/7581
Out of hours: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editor

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 50,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.