The Evolution of Humanity and Movement
Humans have always been active. Our ancestors walked long distances, hunted, farmed, and performed physical tasks daily. However, with the advancement of industrialization and digitalization, our routines have become increasingly sedentary.
This contrast is one of the main factors responsible for the rise in metabolic, cardiovascular, and mental diseases observed over recent centuries. While physical activity was once part of daily life, today we need to dedicate specific time to exercise. Often, this need is underestimated until health problems arise.
The Benefits of Exercise
Science has proven that regular exercise offers immense health benefits.
For example, physical exercise can reduce the risk of cardiovascular diseases by up to 35%, as well as significantly lessen anxiety and depression (Oja et al., 2023). These benefits should not be seen as optional but as an essential necessity for maintaining long-term health.
And this raises the central question: could exercise be prescribed like a medication?
The Role of Exercise Prescription in Modern Medicine
When a doctor prescribes medication, there are specific doses, administration times, and side effects to monitor. Exercise prescriptions should follow a similar logic: with the ideal training type, frequency, and adjustment for each health condition...
In practice, it should be more than a simple written recommendation; it needs to be personalized, adapted to each patient's physical conditions, considering their lifestyle, limitations, and personal preferences. Unlike taking a pill that requires little effort, adherence to exercise demands motivation, time, and importantly, continuous monitoring by a qualified professional to ensure consistency and assess results.
How Exercise Can Be a Tool for Prevention and Treatment?
Exercise should not be seen only as a solution to treat diseases or health problems but also as an essential prevention strategy. It is not about recommending it only when a person is overweight or already diagnosed with a health condition. Exercise should be integrated into our healthy lifestyle from an early age, with simple and accessible habits. And this point is crucial: physical activity should be for everyone. Regardless of age, weight, or medical history, everyone can benefit from regular exercise.
By breaking down the stigma that training is solely associated with weight loss or achieving an ideal body, we understand that the true goal should always be health and well-being. Exercise should not be seen as an obligation or punishment but as a right for each person, contributing to a better life at every stage of existence.
Is Exercise Prescription Sensible?
Exercise prescription makes sense, provided it is personalized, supported, and integrated into each person's lifestyle. In Portugal, there are even intentions to include physical activity records of Portuguese citizens in the National Health Service's (SNS) information system, as well as ongoing efforts to improve health professionals' training and implement specialized services to provide personalized exercise prescriptions.
It is important to remember that exercise is not a passing trend — it is one of the most powerful tools we have to live healthier and with better quality of life. The key is to start now, before health problems emerge.
Author: Rita Marques:
"My name is Rita Marques, besides being a perfectly imperfect woman, I am a nutritionist passionate about helping people find balance between body and mind. My passion was born from the desire to understand how food impacts the body, mind, and emotions, directly influencing our well-being. From early on, my life was marked by sports practice and a demanding relationship with the body and nutrition, which awakened in me the desire to explore nutrition more deeply. This interest led me to realize that nutrition goes far beyond numbers or aesthetic standards; it is a crucial tool to take care of ourselves holistically.
Today, in my professional work, I dedicate myself to helping people build healthier relationships with food and themselves, respecting their individuality and promoting balance."
